NETZ

The NanoEnergieTechnikZentrum

The commercial exploitation of nanotechnology still falls way short of expectations. The reason is a glaring gap in technology. To date there has not been enough research done into the production of nanomaterials in large volumes or the processing stages required to generate an end product.

Consequently, no-one knows how suited nanomaterials are to use in volume production. The combination of these deficits, the insufficient availability of materials and the lack of knowledge of related procecesses, means that turning nanoresearch into technical reality represents an incalculable risk for companies. The NanoEnergieTechnikZentrum (NETZ) is working to resolve this.

NETZ is an application-focused research project. It is half financed by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the EU. The University of Duisburg-Essen and its project partners make their own funding contributions. The University of Duisburg-Essen is contributing its interdisciplinary expertise to this project and other research bodies and companies are involved as partners.

The aim of the project is to develop materials and also processes which allow nanotechnology to be used in industry. The first stages of processes are to be developed in the center itself. As the materials at this stage must be transported in a closed system from one step to the next and in situ characterization is also essential, the corresponding processes can only take place within the same specialized lab building.

The further stages of added value, culminating in end products, do not take place at NETZ but are undertaken by the respective partners. Currently, research focuses on developing materials and processes for use in fuel cells, battery technology, catalysis, thermoelectrics and photovoltaics.