ISC2024 Renewable Energies

From the basics of photovoltaics to energy storage options and energy loss mechanisms, the course supervised by Philipp Lanfermann focused on renewable energies.

The participants learned how different types of solar cells work and independently produced both dye-sensitized solar cells and innovative perovskite solar cells. They also examined components of these cells using modern transmission electron microscopes, with the support of Matthias Hahn. Volker Radisch gave them an insight into the technique of focused ion beam microscopy, which is essential for the Collaborative Research Center's research.

In the XLAB, the participants were given an insight into battery research by lecturer Christoph Weidmann by independently building and testing various types of accumulators such as the so-called redox flow battery. In addition, various possible applications of renewable energies such as the reduction of carbon dioxide to formic acid were discussed and investigated using experiments.

At the Institute of Materials Physics, PhD student Kim Lambert introduced the participants to atomic force microscopy. This microscopy technique makes it possible to mechanically scan surfaces in the nanometer range and thus, for example, measure frictional forces on an atomic scale. After this theoretical introduction to microscopy technology, the participants were able to take their own measurements of frictional forces at nanometer level. In addition, model experiments on friction were carried out on a macroscopic scale in order to identify similarities and differences between the two scales.