Faszination Forschung Ausgabe 18

Inhalt

Editorial

Editorial
Picture credit: Heddergott Editorial Catalysis is one of the trending technologies in our hightech society. New catalysts and catalytic processes are paving the way for energy-efficient, low-resource substance conversions with the ability to add value while saving money. They will also make it easier for us to use renewable raw materials. At TUM, we have been prioritizing research into catalysis for several years now. Today we are proud to present our new TUM Catalysis Research Center in Garching. The largest and most modern center for catalysis research in Europe, this interdisciplinary facility provides an excellent scientific platform for our continued endeavors in this area.

Earth Observation

How Radar Satellites See the World
Space missions deliver global 3-D topography mapping and more.

Neutron Research

Neutrons Reveal – The Secret of Superconductivity
Thirty years into the investigation and the theory still has gaps – researchers worldwide are still attempting to fathom why some materials suddenly become superconductive at specific temperatures. The PUMA and PANDA experiments at the FRMII research neutron source are among the best in the world for investigating certain aspects of the phenomenon. There, scientists have spent the last ten years or so piecing together the picture.

Physical Chemistry

Small in Size, Big in Impact
If you take a well-known material – gold for example – and reduce it to the size of just a few atoms, it suddenly becomes something quite different. This inert precious metal is now a catalyst which reacts with other molecules, thus accelerating chemical reactions. Prof. Ulrich Heiz builds nanocatalysts like this atom by atom. His objective is to produce customized catalysts for the widest range of applications.

Catalysis Research

Catalysis – the Frontier Technology
The development of new catalysts and catalytic processes will play a crucial role in the future success of Germany as a key location in the chemical industry. With its high-tech infrastructure and dense competence network of national and international reach, TUM’s new Catalysis Research Center provides an ideal scientific platform for the country that invented industrial catalysis to shine.

Photochemistry

Millions at my Beck and Call!
Thorsten Bach is in the unusual business of “taming” tiny molecules, teaching them to do exactly as he commands. His aim is to reduce waste. A visionary Italian pioneer is lighting the way – literally!

Nanoscience

Magically Drawn to the Interface
Johannes Barth likes to research at the edge. He is interested in harnessing the properties of complex single molecules and creating nano-scale architectures with useful functionalities. The research of his team is laying the groundwork for novel kinds of materials and processes in molecular nanoscience and technology.

Media Technology

Getting a Grip
Industrial robots are engineered for extreme levels of precision, using sophisticated sensors to grab and manipulate objects with millimeter accuracy. However, they are also very expensive. That fact prompted Prof. Eckehard Steinbach and his team to develop a light and affordable robot that doesn’t need costly sensors thanks to cameraenabled motion control. This machine is particularly suitable for smaller industrial companies that are currently priced out of the robot market.

Industrial Biocatalysis

The Search for Efficient Processes to Generate Green Crude
The production of “green aviation fuels” from algae is not yet commercially viable because of the extensive costs and amount of space required. Researchers from the Industrial Biocatalysis Group at TUM are looking to change that.

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Faszination Forschung, Heft 18 (2016) / Faszination Forschung, Edition 18 (2016)