➀ Scientists developed a dual-light resin 3D printer that creates both permanent and dissolvable materials from a single resin;

➀ UV light forms rigid structures, while visible light produces supports that dissolve in lye in 15 minutes;

➁ The innovation enables complex designs like movable caged spheres and interlocking chains previously unachievable with standard resin printing.

➀ A new DFG special research program aims to utilize unconventional magnetism for information technology.

➁ The program, coordinated by Prof. Dr. Jairo Sinova of Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, focuses on fundamental and applied research.

➂ The goal is to develop components or devices with unprecedented speed, storage density, and efficiency based on unconventional magnetic systems.

➀ Researchers at Fraunhofer ILT and RWTH Aachen are using synchrotron radiation to observe welding processes in detail, in real-time. This research aims to visualize steam bubbles, molten movement, and defects, optimizing battery and microelectronics production.

➁ The interdisciplinary team 'Laser Meets Synchrotron' at DESY focuses on fundamental scientific questions leading to industrial innovations. The team conducts 700 experiments in seven days to improve material properties and processes.

➂ Synchrotron radiation allows for high-resolution visualization of material structures and dynamic processes, enabling precise analysis for industrial innovation and optimization of welding processes in high-performance batteries and other critical components.

Researchers at the European XFEL have developed a new measuring device for hard X-ray light, known as a Laue spectrometer. It can detect photon energies over 15 kiloelectronvolts with high precision and improved efficiency. This is important for the study of technologically significant materials, such as those capable of transporting electricity without loss or enhancing the efficiency of chemical processes.

Traditional X-ray spectrometers operate in the Bragg geometry, where X-rays are bent by parallel atom planes, similar to mirrors reflecting visible light. However, at high energies, much of the hard X-ray light passes through the crystal unused, reducing the performance of conventional spectrometers. The new Laue spectrometer developed at the FXE experimental station at the European XFEL addresses this issue by working in the Laue geometry, where X-rays pass through the crystal and are bent by atomic layers perpendicular to the surface. This makes the new Laue analyzer more efficient at higher X-ray energies.

The newly developed device, called the High Energy Laue X-ray Emission Spectrometer (HELIOS), is now available to all users at the European XFEL. It offers an extremely high precision of about 1.2 x 10^-4 at a photon energy of about 18.6 keV, reaching 4 to 22 times higher signal strength compared to conventional spectrometers. This allows the detection of particularly interesting electronic transitions in so-called 4d-transition metals, which are otherwise very difficult to measure.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Photonics Microsystems (IPMS) is involved in an interdisciplinary research project called 'InSeKT' (Development of Intelligent Sensor Edge Technologies). This project, carried out by the Technical University of Wildau, the Leibniz Institute for Innovative Microelectronics (IHP), and the Fraunhofer IPMS, aims to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) more effectively at the 'edges' of IT networks. The project focuses on miniaturized sensor structures and the integration of electronic components, with the goal of enabling complex calculations directly at the data source, such as at the sensor itself.

Current data processing with AI often occurs through central cloud computing solutions, leading to data transfer over large distances and potential data leaks. The project addresses this by promoting decentralized data processing for improved data security and real-time system capabilities.

The project covers various areas, including gas analysis using ion mobility spectrometers (IMS), data-supported evaluation of photodetectors for the near-infrared wavelength range, and the adapted use of capacitive microelectromechanical ultrasonic transducers (CMUTs) for improved imaging. The generated data will be used to train Edge-KI systems for fast and accurate data processing.

The use of graphene in lithium-ion batteries has shown promising potential to significantly improve battery performance. Although technological advancements have been made, the widespread application of graphene-based battery components remains challenging. The article 'Graphene Roadmap Briefs No. 4' published in the journal 2D-Materials highlights the central trends since 2017 and future prospects for the commercialization of graphene in battery technology.

Graphene, due to its unique electronic, mechanical, and chemical properties, is considered a promising material for the further development of lithium-ion batteries (LIB). The publication 'Graphene Roadmap Briefs (No. 4): innovation prospects for Li-ion batteries' summarizes the key progress and challenges in the development and commercialization of graphene-based lithium-ion batteries, focusing on graphene-based silicon anodes.

Graphene can improve the energy density of batteries, offer advantages in fast-charging capabilities, and enhance the stability and lifespan of batteries through its integration into silicon anodes. However, the stability of silicon anodes currently does not match that of conventional graphite anodes. The cost-effective production methods for graphene-based batteries are still lacking, and the prices of graphene and related materials have remained unexpectedly high in the past.

Jülich researchers have introduced novel memristive components in Nature Communications, offering significant advantages over previous versions. These memristors are more robust, operate within a wider voltage range, and can be used in both analog and digital modes. They could address the issue of 'catastrophic forgetting' in artificial neural networks, where learned information is abruptly lost.

The researchers have implemented the new memristive element in a model of artificial neural networks, achieving high accuracy in pattern recognition. They plan to seek further materials for memristors that may perform even better than the current version.

➀ Researchers at the Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Vienna, have presented an innovative approach to the synthesis of Azaparacyclophanes (APCs), a class of highly developed ring-shaped molecular structures with great potential for materials science.

➁ The new CTM method uses the 'Pd-catalyzed Buchwald-Hartwig cross-coupling reaction' to create π-conjugated cyclic structures, offering a direct and efficient way to produce APCs.

➂ The method is flexible, allowing the production of APCs with different ring sizes and functional groups, and is scalable and reproducible.

➀ ATLANT 3D announced a $15M Series A+ funding round led by West Hill Capital;

➁ The company's atomic-scale manufacturing technology enables precise development of advanced materials and devices for optics, photonics, microelectronics, quantum computing, sensors, and space applications;

➂ ATLANT 3D has successfully launched NANOFABRICATORTM LITE and has established partnerships with over 50 industrial and research organizations.

➀ The transition from conventional fuels to renewable energy sources has made hydrogen a crucial energy carrier. Fuel cells provide energy for mobility and independent power supply as an alternative to traditional combustion engines. However, the technology is still lacking in components available in the required quantities and at affordable costs.

➁ The Fraunhofer Institutes in Germany are working together on cost-effective mass production of bipolar plates, the core of fuel cells, to achieve widespread use of fuel cells.

➂ The research project 'H2GO' focuses on developing industrial technologies for fuel cell production, including efficient processes and production systems, as well as machinery and equipment construction.

The ultrafast dynamics and interactions of electrons in solids have been a challenge to observe directly. Researchers from the University of Oldenburg and Politecnico di Milano have developed a new spectroscopic method that uses ultra-short laser pulses to analyze the movement of electrons in materials. This method, known as two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy (2DES), allows for the study of quantum-physical processes with high temporal resolution. The team has found a way to simplify the experimental implementation of this procedure, making it more accessible for wider use.

The research involves using a sequence of three ultrashort laser pulses to excite electrons in a material, changing its optical properties, and then using a third pulse to provide information about the excited system. By varying the time intervals between these pulses, different stages of the process can be observed. The team's new approach, which involves adding an optical component to an interferometer, has significantly improved the precision of the laser pulses.

This breakthrough could lead to new insights into various quantum-physical processes, such as chemical reactions and energy transfer in solar cells.

➀ Researchers at the Fritz-Haber Institute have developed the Automatic Process Explorer (APE), an approach that enhances our understanding of atomic and molecular processes.

➁ APE reveals unexpected complexities in the oxidation of palladium (Pd) surfaces, providing new insights into catalyst behavior.

➂ By using machine-learned interatomic potentials (MLIPs), APE predicts atomic interactions and improves the accuracy of simulations.

➀ The Empa opens a new lab focused on harnessing quantum effects in carbon, aiming to pave the way for sustainable quantum technologies including quantum computers.

➁ The project is supported by the Werner Siemens Foundation and the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF), with research on carbon nanostructures and quantum effects.

➂ The lab features advanced Raster Tunnel Microscopes, allowing precise manipulation and observation of quantum states in carbon nanomolecules, crucial for quantum computing and other technologies.

The Corromap project aims to close the knowledge gap in corrosion measurement for fuel cells. Corrosion limits the performance and lifespan of fuel cells crucial for the hydrogen economy. The research focuses on in situ corrosion measurements during the operation of the cells. Partners include the Fachhochschule Südwestfalen in Iserlohn and the Zentrum für Brennstoffzellentechnologie Duisburg (ZBT).

The project aims to introduce sensor technology into fuel cells to vary corrosion conditions under laboratory conditions. The ultimate goal is to prevent corrosion and performance losses in the necessary fuel cell technology.

Strategies include monitoring and controlling the operating conditions of fuel cells, optimizing materials and coatings, and developing cost-effective manufacturing processes.

➀ Silicon carbide (SiC) offers significant technical advantages for power electronics, but its cost remains a barrier to market penetration. The Fraunhofer Institutes are developing key technologies to reduce material losses and device thickness while increasing the thermomechanical stability of SiC chips.

➁ The ThinSiCPower project aims to produce cost-effective SiC substrates and thinner SiC chips using more resource-efficient processing technologies, such as laser separation of SiC crystals and bonding onto a carrier substrate.

➂ The project partners are Fraunhofer ISE, ENAS, IWM, and IISB, with the goal of reducing SiC device costs by 25% and SiC design costs by 25% through increased load cycle stability.

The article discusses the development of cost-effective silicon carbide (SiC) power electronics through research projects like ThinSiCPower. It highlights the advantages of SiC over traditional silicon, emphasizing the need for reducing costs and improving thermal-mechanical stability. The project focuses on creating thin SiC chips and cost-effective substrates without the need for sawing and grinding, aiming to accelerate the market penetration of efficient SiC power electronics.

➀ The Fraunhofer FEP is developing optically effective surface structures for perovskite solar cells within the EU PERSEUS project to enhance cell efficiency and reduce reflection losses.

➁ The Design-PV project focuses on creating decorative surfaces for integrated photovoltaic modules, combining aesthetically pleasing solutions with PV-active wall areas.

➂ The RzR-NIL technology allows for the production of large-area, continuous film surfaces with various applications, such as Lab-on-Chip structures, biofouling reduction, and window anti-reflective coatings.

The University of Bayreuth is involved in the project 'Sodium-Ion Battery: Germany Research – SIB:DE RESEARCH' aimed at the rapid industrial implementation of sodium-ion batteries. Twenty-one national institutions from science and industry are pooling their expertise to quickly transfer research results into practical application. The research project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) with approximately 14 million euros.

Lithium-ion batteries are the most commonly used energy storage devices currently. However, resource dependence and scarcity are significant challenges for this technology. Therefore, alternatives for mobile and stationary energy storage are urgently needed. Sodium-ion batteries (NIB, SIB) are considered a promising approach due to their abundance, affordability, and safety. Thus, sodium-ion batteries could play a key role in a stable and sustainable European energy supply.

The SIB:DE RESEARCH project involves 21 German institutions that are examining the suitability of SIB for the energy and mobility transition and aim to quickly industrialize its use. The project focuses on identifying SIB active materials that can be produced on a scalable basis and offer competitive cell performance. Prof. Dr. Matteo Bianchini from the University of Bayreuth's Chair of Inorganic Active Materials for Electrochemical Energy Storage is working on developing new active materials for cathodes and anodes, which are crucial for the performance of SIB.