Materials Chain

 

Materials Chain is the first and largest flagship program of the University Alliance Ruhr. It offers a platform for interdisciplinary networking that brings together researchers from fundamental natural sciences to applied materials science and production technology. More than 200 scientists from more than 150 chairs and research groups from Ruhr-Universität Bochum, TU Dortmund University, and the University of Duisburg-Essen research and teach under the umbrella of the flagship program. The profile is complemented by cooperations with 11 regional partner institutions.

Building on the proven strengths at the respective university locations, Materials Chain initiates new research projects and associations to strengthen the role of the Ruhr Area as an internationally leading research region for modern materials and their production. The most prominent example that emerged from the program is the UA Ruhr Research Center Future Energy Materials and Systems (FEMS).

Latest News

Shaping the future with liquid crystals

International conference

Liquid crystals are omnipresent. They can be found in smartphones, tablets and flat screens. Experts from science and industry will discuss their future development at the 50th German Liquid Crystal Conference (GLCC). The University of Duisburg-Essen is hosting the event on the Essen campus from 13 to 15 March. Some 80 participants are expected to attend. Liquid crystals are chemical substances,... read more

Research made in NRW

Minister Brandes opens FutureLab.NRW

A digital model laboratory for the analytics of the future: On 19 February, NRW Minister for Culture and Science Ina Brandes opened the FutureLab.NRW at the Institute for Environment and Energy, Technology and Analytics, an affiliated institute of the University of Duisburg-Essen, in front of over 100 guests from business and science. In doing so, the member of the Johannes Rau Research Association... read more

Improved understanding of perovskite solar cells

New measurement technology developed

Highly efficient and cost-efficient to produce - perovskite solar cells have repeatedly caused surprises in recent years. Scientists at "Forschungszentrum Jülich" and the University of Duisburg-Essen have now discovered a further special property using a new photoluminescence measurement technique, which may be a key reason for the high efficiency. The results were presented in the scientific journal... read more

Who are we? Why is collaboration important in modern materials science? And what are we working on?

Learn more about our network

 
 

Upcoming Events

6th Materials Chain International Conference, MCIC 2024: Inorganic Functional Materials, September 12th 2024 at Ruhr-Universität Bochum


 

Seminar Series “Materials and Energy: Challenges and Opportunities”

The Materials Chain Seminar Series “Materials and Energy: Challenges and Opportunities” brings together highly visible researchers across the various fields of materials science who investigate the intricate relationship between energy and materials. “Energy” and “Materials” have an overarching importance for the future development of our society. They are coupled in multiple ways ranging from fundamental science to real-world applications. Analyzing their intricate relationship as energy-materials nexus, however, is a new approach. Because solutions are urgently needed, this field requires intense interaction and collaboration across scientific disciplines and along the entire chain from fundamental science to industrial application.

The seminar series takes place during winter term on Thursdays and/or Fridays, typically from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The lectures are held in different ZOOM rooms, which will be proclaimed here as well as in the invitations sent to all members of the Materials Chain, who have been signed up for the Newsletter.

Everybody is welcome. Registration is not required. If you receive an invitation as Materials Chain member, please feel free to forward it to other interested researchers at your institution and beyond. Early career researchers, like PhD students, are welcome as well!

Lectures for the upcoming winter term will be annouced in due time.

Learn more about our Seminar Series

Video

Take a look behind the laboratory doors of some of the natural scientists and engineers working within the Materials Chain network: