Feb 9 2010
ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia are jointly funding the Center for Electrochemical Sciences (CES) at Ruhr University Bochum. The new center, which is also cooperating with the Max Planck Institute for Iron Research, will focus on a discipline which is regarded as the basis for numerous high-tech applications.
The findings of the researchers at the state-of-the-art CES laboratory can benefit the energy and chemical sectors as well as areas such as coating, micro systems technology, diagnostics and environmental monitoring. Specifically, research will be carried out into topics such as corrosion, photoelectrocatalysis and materials for fuel cells. Electrochemistry is a truly cross-disciplinary science which can help generate eco-friendly energy or develop batteries for the cars of the future.
The concept for the Bochum research center was a successful entry in the Hightech.NRW competition staged for the second time in 2009. Organized by the Ministry of Innovation of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, the competition provides funding for high-tech projects across industry - on condition that they involve research of international excellence. A further central criterion is that the projects should generate innovations which can be transferred from academia to industry.
In this and the next two years the CES will receive a total of 3.75 million euros. Work in the central laboratory facilities will commence shortly. The selection process for the post-graduate and post-doctoral scientists who will make up the four CES research groups is also underway. The center will serve as a central, internationally visible research location in North Rhine-Westphalia, focusing scientific expertise in electrochemical research. In addition, the CES will participate in graduate training in the chemistry and biochemistry faculty of Ruhr University Bochum and develop training courses for technicians and scientists. The head of the center is Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Schuhmann from the university's chemistry and biochemistry faculty.
The ThyssenKrupp Group is a longstanding cooperation partner to Ruhr University Bochum. For example, since 2002 the company has been presenting a materials innovation award to scientists at Ruhr University for excellence in the research, development and use of materials. ThyssenKrupp is also the leader of an industrial consortium providing financial support to the materials research center ICAMS (Interdisciplinary Center of Advanced Materials Simulation) at Ruhr University Bochum in conjunction with the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.