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Starting signal for Cluster of Excellence: Materials for the energy transition

A major inter-university project is officially opened at TU Wien by Science Minister Martin Polaschek. A new ‘Cluster of Excellence’ is developing solutions for sustainable energy sources.

[Translate to English:] Kick-Off im Kuppelsaal

(c) Matthias Heisler

MECS: A ‘Cluster of Excellence’ headed by Prof Günther Rupprechter at TU Wien

People all over the world are looking for the most efficient methods of converting and storing energy. Research into new materials optimised for energy applications is crucial for this.

A major inter-university scientific project dedicated to this research is now being launched at TU Wien: the Cluster of Excellence ‘Materials for Energy Conversion and Storage’ (MECS) was opened by Federal Minister Martin Polaschek on 3 May 2024.

Numerous Austrian research groups have already caused an international stir in this field in the past. This existing expertise is now to be bundled, networked and further expanded. The Cluster of Excellence will thus anchor Austrian materials research for energy technologies at a top international level in the long term, far beyond the duration of the Cluster of Excellence.

In addition to TU Wien, the University of Vienna, the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) and the University of Innsbruck are also involved in the project. The ‘Clusters of Excellence’ are by far the most highly endowed research funding programme in Austria. With this funding format, the FWF enables large-scale projects at a top international level, on which several research institutions work together.

Understanding catalysers at the atomic level

There are several ways to store renewable energy efficiently. For example, water can be split into hydrogen and oxygen. In order to avoid CO2 emissions in the future, CO2 can be captured and converted into other substances - for example alcohols or e-fuels.

‘For this to succeed, we need to develop new innovative materials that go beyond rare and expensive precious metals,’ explains Prof Günther Rupprechter from the Institute of Materials Chemistry, the head of the new Cluster of Excellence. ‘In order to develop the customised nanocatalysts needed for such processes, we first need to understand exactly which chemical and physical processes take place at the atomic level on surfaces and interfaces.’

‘And this is where USTEM comes in. As soon as the purchase of new electron microscopes is finalised, in-situ equipment will be acquired for MECS so that the catalytic reactions can be experienced live at the atomic level,’ explain Prof. Bernardi and Dr Stöger-Pollach.