Micro- and Nanostructured Functional Materials

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Within the framework of this project, it is planned to procure a multi-purpose powder diffractometer with interchangeable tubes for the most versatile structure elucidation possible using a wide range of methods (in addition to powder diffraction, grazing incidence, PDF and residual stress measurements) as well as a coupled AFM-Raman microscope with multiple excitation wavelengths and detectors for spatially resolved chemical-structural analysis on nanomaterials. This new equipment will be used to study nanomaterials for fuel cells, to develop novel coatings, and to study structure-property relationships of steels for hydrogen technologies. First and foremost is the development and investigation of alternative electrode and catalyst support materials for the polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEMFC), on which aging during operation is to be investigated. Furthermore, new proton conducting membranes in the form of titanate nanotubes dispersed in sPEEK will be investigated as a fluorine-free alternative for the materials used so far. In addition to the materials for the PEM, the influence of residual stresses on the embrittlement of steels will be investigated. Steel will play an important role in the transport and storage of hydrogen, e.g. as a container material. Hydrogen is known to cause embrittlement of steel, so it can be assumed that residual stresses in steel will have an influence on the stability of the material. Further questions about residual stresses arise in the field of medical technology. In the case of implants, for example, stresses in the substrate can lead to defects in the coating systems. The two devices were selected to provide important support for other topics in addition to the specific research approaches presented in this project.