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
New Insights into Ammonia Splitting
Chemistry
An international research team has made progress in understanding how an iron catalyst can split ammonia into nitrogen and hydrogen, a key step in hydrogen transport and storage. The findings, involving teams from Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Chair of Technical Chemistry (Dr. Maximilian Purcel and Prof. Dr. Martin Muhler), the Max Planck Institute (MPI CEC) for Chemical Energy Conversion, TU Berlin and... read more
Safe Hydrogen Storage in Solids
Materials Research
Green hydrogen is key to the energy transition, but its safe storage remains a challenge. In the “GreenH2Metals” project, Ruhr University Bochum is researching how recyclable metal alloys can efficiently store hydrogen at room temperature and low pressure. The research group at Ruhr University Bochum, led by Prof. Dr. Christian Liebscher from the Research Center for Future Energy Materials and... read more
Revolutionary ultra-fast insights
UA Ruhr appointment of Xijie Wang
Faster than lightning: Prof. Dr. Xijie Wang is researching at the University Alliance Ruhr how extremely rapid changes in materials can be made visible. Using the method of 'Mega-Electron-Volt Ultrafast Electron Diffraction', the renowned scientist wants to establish this innovative technique at the universities in the Ruhr region. He conducts research at the Research Center Chemical Sciences and Sustainability... read more
Who are we? Why is collaboration important in modern materials science? And what are we working on?
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.
Video
Take a look behind the laboratory doors of some of the natural scientists and engineers working within the Materials Chain network: