Press | Media

Through its expertise, the Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films IST has provided a significant contribution towards the successful revision and publication of the international standard ISO 10678. The standard regulates the procedure for determining the photocatalytic activity of surfaces by means of the degradation of methylene blue under UV irradiation. It enables an objective assessment of the self-cleaning properties of surfaces and provides manufacturers of coated materials with a reliable basis for product certification.

At the beginning of March, the third funding period commenced for the Open Hybrid LabFactory (OHLF) research campus, which is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). In collaboration with Volkswagen, the Technische Universität Braunschweig, the Fraunhofer Center Circular Economy for Mobility CCEM, Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences and 35 further partners, practice-oriented and efficient solutions for a sustainable circular economy in the automotive industry are being developed at the OHLF within the scope of this funding phase. For this purpose, the BMBF is providing a funding volume of ten million euros, which will cover three major research projects and a duration of five years. A central component of this initiative is the “CirProTech” project, the kick-off meeting for which took place in Wolfsburg at the end of March.

How is a wafer-thin film created? Why is the correct preparation so important? And how can the quality of a coating be tested? These and many other questions were investigated by 22 curious schoolchildren during this year’s Future Day at the Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films IST. In collaboration with the neighboring Fraunhofer WKI, the institute opened its doors to provide the young guests with an exciting insight into the world of research and technology.

New regulations require battery manufacturers to use a minimum proportion of recycled materials, as well as to provide proof of the origin of raw materials and the carbon footprint of battery cells. In particular, this concerns critical raw materials for battery cell production, such as nickel, lithium and cobalt. In addition, companies face the challenge of creating transparency in their supply chains and collecting information from suppliers for the purpose of verification. In order to meet these requirements, information is needed about the value-added routes and quality of cathode active materials, which are synthesised from raw materials of different origins. This is precisely where the project ‘Sustainable and Transparent Battery Materials Value Chains for a Circular Battery Economy’ (SUSTRAB), coordinated by TU Braunschweig, comes in.

Hydrogen is a key factor of the energy transition and plays a crucial role in reducing CO₂ emissions in industry and mobility. Especially in regions with energy-intensive production, such as Salzgitter, hydrogen offers the opportunity to establish sustainable and climate-friendly value chains. The Wasserstoff Campus Salzgitter is the result of a broad alliance of stakeholders from the city, region, politics, business and science. Together, the partners are pursuing the goal of realizing hydrogen technologies along the entire value chain – from production to use – while taking economic and ecological aspects into account.

The Open Hybrid LabFactory (OHLF) in Wolfsburg has reached a significant milestone: In early March, the research campus, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), entered its third funding phase. At OHLF, Volkswagen, Braunschweig University of Technology, the Fraunhofer Society, Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences, and 35 other partners pool their expertise under one roof. This unique collaboration fosters the development of innovative projects aimed at establishing practical and efficient solutions for a sustainable circular economy in the automotive industry. The focus is on advancing new technologies that conserve resources, optimize recycling processes, and improve material reuse.

On the occasion of the "Tag der Raumfahrt" (engl. German Space Day) on March 28, 2025, we will take an exclusive look at innovations, groundbreaking technologies and exciting developments in the space industry in the next round of the online dialog format “TransferTalk”.

RNA-based medicines and treatment methods open up a new dimension in modern medicine. Despite their potential, RNA-based therapies are faced with major challenges: The instability of RNA and its rapid degradation in the body, combined with the necessity of ultra-cold storage or encapsulation, mean that innovative technological solutions are required in order to ensure efficacy and safety. This is where the Research Training Group “RNApp” comes in, with a total of twelve doctoral projects - among them the Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films IST.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films IST will receive around 2.5 million euros from the Niedersächsisches Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Kultur (Lower Saxony ministry for science and culture) for research work at the Wasserstoff Campus Salzgitter. On 3rd February 2025, Lower Saxony’s Minister for Science and Culture, Falko Mohrs, personally handed over the funding notification at the Salzgitter location.

Perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells made of stable materials and manufactured using scalable production processes are the prerequisite for the next technological leap in the photovoltaic industry. Over the past five years, six Fraunhofer Institutes combined their expertise in the Fraunhofer lighthouse project "MaNiTU" to identify the most sustainable paths for the market launch of such tandem solar cells. They were able to show for one that high cell efficiencies can be achieved using industry-oriented processes, however, that such high efficiencies were only currently achievable with lead perovskite materials. Based on these findings, the researchers developed suitable recycling concepts to ensure sustainability.