Materials Chain
Materials Chain is the first and largest competence field 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 competence field. 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
Recycling CO2 for a Sustainable Future
CATALYSIS
An international research team, led by Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Schuhmann from Ruhr University Bochum, has demonstrated how to electrochemically reduce CO2 even at low concentrations found in exhaust gases. This discovery could help turn harmful emissions into useful materials, providing new ways to protect the climate.... read more
Innovative Approach to CO₂ Reduction
CHEMISTRY
An international team of researchers, led by Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Schuhmann (Ruhr University Bochum) and Dr. Felipe Conzuelo (Universidade Nova de Lisboa), has developed a groundbreaking hybrid catalytic cascade to convert CO2 into valuable methanol. This innovative method combines the precision of biocatalysts with the robustness of electrocatalysis, overcoming the limitations of each approach.... read more
Technology forum for business and science
ZBT Hydrogen Days 2025
The ZBT - Center for Fuel Cell Technology - invites you to the first ZBT Hydrogen Days in Duisburg on February 4 and 5, 2025. Researchers, developers and interested parties from industry and science will meet at the Fraunhofer InHaus Center near the ZBT to exchange ideas and network on hydrogen technologies. The focus of the Hydrogen Days is on professional exchange and networking. Keynote speeches,... 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: