2020

Greifswald, 23 November 2020

The aim of the visit by Michael Sack, District Administrator of the Vorpommern-Greifswald district and State Chairman of the CDU Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (M-V), and Egbert Liskow, CDU member and member of the State Parliament of M-V, is to gain an overview of the latest developments in the field of hydrogen technology and plasma medicine. District Administrator of the Vorpommern-Greifswald district and State Chairman of the CDU Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (M-V), and Egbert Liskow, CDU member and member of the M-V state parliament, to the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP) e. V.

The Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP) is Germany's leading institution in the field of Plasma Science and Technology, combining basic research and applications.

The programme on 23 November will feature the presentation of the latest developments in surface analysis, a special field of the INP. Scientists from the Plasma Surface Technology Department will provide an insight into plasma-assisted processes for modifying surfaces for use in the high-tech sector, such as automotive engineering, the aerospace industry and in the life sciences, e.g. for implants or in the food industry.

One of the key projects to be presented is the CAMPFIRE Alliance North-East, led by INP e.V. in cooperation with 40 partners as part of the WIR! pilot programme – "Change through Innovation in the Region" of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). It pursues the development of new technologies for the decentralised production of green ammonia (NH3) from renewable energies and its use as an innovative energy source for emission-free maritime mobility. Electroceramic thin-film membranes based on complex metal oxides form the core of CAMPFIRE's new energy technologies.

Information on the development and optimisation of plasma-based processes for decontamination and hygiene for environmental protection is also on the agenda for the CDU politicians' visit to the INP. State-of-the-art plasma technology is used to break down biological and chemical contaminants from surfaces, gases and liquids. Physical plasmas can contribute to the destruction of stubborn compounds such as pharmaceutical residues in wastewater treatment and are used in drinking water treatment.

With the project "Physics for Food – A Region Rethinks!", the INP, together with the Neubrandenburg University of Applied Sciences and its partners, is pursuing the development of a strategy to make seeds more viable and robust with the help of physical technologies. The focus here is, for example, on the application of cold plasmas to accelerate plant growth and increase resistance. "Physics for Food" is funded by the BMBF as part of the "WIR" funding programme – Change through Innovation in the Region.

Greifswald, 20 November 2020
As a member of the state parliament of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (M-V), Christian Pegel, Minister for Energy, Infrastructure and Digitalisation (SPD), is visiting the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP) in Greifswald today. The focus of his visit will be on information about the latest developments in hydrogen technology and the technical challenges of the energy transition, as well as a tour of various research laboratories. In addition to INP's research on hydrogen technology, Christian Pegel will also learn about the latest developments in the use of cold atmospheric pressure plasmas in medicine and agriculture.

The north-east region of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is in the process of transforming itself into a region of the future for the energy transition. The aim is to create a future energy economy based on green ammonia obtained from air, water and locally generated renewable energies and its use in maritime mobility. Green ammonia enables a carbon-free energy supply based on hydrogen and thus provides effective, long-term economic ways of reducing the global carbon dioxide content in the Earth's atmosphere.

"We need alternatives to fossil fuels for the long-term success of the energy transition and for climate protection. Climate-friendly hydrogen production enables significant reductions in CO2 emissions, especially in industry and transport. It will play a key role as a versatile energy carrier. It is the energy carrier of the future, including the hydrogen carrier ammonia, for which the INP is conducting a major research project with various cooperation partners," said Christian Pegel. "This is a great opportunity for Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania to link the energy sector and the maritime industry."

The Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP) is Germany's leading institution in the field of Plasma Science and Technology, combining basic research and applications. Together with the Leibniz Institute for Catalysis (LIKAT, Rostock) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Large Structures in Production Engineering (IGP, Rostock), the INP is playing a pioneering role in the development of cost-effective hydrogen technologies. To this end, a research factory for the production of hydrogen, ammonia and CO2-neutral carbon-based fuels (synthetic methanol or green kerosene) is to be established. Technical challenges of the energy transition are at the forefront here.

A key project led by the INP is the CAMPFIRE alliance in the North-East region as part of the WIR! pilot programme – "Change through Innovation in the Region" – run by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). The alliance is researching technologies for the regional and seasonal production of green ammonia (NH3) from renewable energies and its use as a carbon-free energy storage medium and fuel in maritime mobility. Innovative manufacturing processes for electrodes, membranes and corrosion protection coatings have been developed as key components for hydrogen technology at the INP in collaboration with partners for several years.

Minister Pegel is familiar with the CAMPFIRE project and has been following it with great interest since its inception in 2019. In the first project phase, ten CAMPFIRE joint projects are being funded with 8 million euros. The alliance currently consists of over 40 mainly regional but also supraregional partners, such as research institutions and companies from the shipbuilding and shipping industries, energy technology and a major consumer of hydrogen from the fertiliser industry based in the region. NH3 is the perfect hydrogen storage medium and has a volumetric energy density comparable to that of methanol. It can be liquefied at minus 33 °C or at normal temperature at a low pressure of 8 bar and can therefore be stored, transported and handled easily and safely in an economical manner. At the heart of CAMPFIRE's new " " energy technologies are electroceramic thin-film membranes based on complex metal oxides. These enable high efficiency and a long service life for the new technologies, e.g. in the production of the new energy carrier ammonia using innovative electrolysis processes, as well as in crackers for the use of ammonia as a fuel in shipping, engines and fuel cells.

M-V is pursuing the steady expansion of energy production based on wind power, solar technology and biomass. The high storage costs involved in ensuring a secure supply of fluctuating renewable energy are a critical issue here. Power-to-X products such as carbon-free ammonia or biogenic methanol and kerosene are important door openers for the energy transition and open up sustainable business models for regional companies beyond small pilot projects.

1 October 2020

A multidisciplinary consortium of physicists, biochemists, biologists and pharmacists is investigating the effects of microplastics in the body. October 2020 sees the launch of the PlasMark project, which is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research with €4.5 million and aims to develop label-free diagnostic methods for plastic particles. The joint project is promoting research at three Centres for Innovation Competence (ZIK) in the new federal states: ZIK plasmatis at the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology Greifswald (INP), ZIK HIKE at the University of Greifswald Medical Centre and University of Greifswald, and ZIK innoFSPEC at the Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam (AIP).

Modern plastics offer an almost ideal combination of properties – they are robust, lightweight, chemically resistant and very easy to process. "This makes them an indispensable part of our everyday lives and leaves their mark on our environment. Not only in large, visible forms such as the notorious plastic vortexes in the world's oceans, but also in tiny particles known as microplastics," explains the initiator of the consortium, Dr Kristian Wende, a scientist at the INP. These microplastics – invisible to the naked eye – pose a serious threat to global ecosystems, the full extent of which is not yet known. A New York study confirmed the presence of 325 particles with a diameter of between 6 and 100 µm per litre of bottled water. Microplastic particles have even been found in Arctic ice – and also in food – fish and mussels. Dr Sander Bekeschus from the INP in Greifswald adds: "Their further fate and impact on the human body are largely unclear. This is partly due to the fact that it is not easy to detect the tiny particles in the complex structures of cells and tissues." This is where the project team comes in. "We are focusing on three different, state-of-the-art technologies," explains Prof. Martin Roth from AIP Potsdam. "In addition to confocal Raman spectroscopy and terahertz spectroscopy, which we know from the so-called body scanners at airports, the suitability of multispectral light and electron microscopy for this purpose is being investigated." All three approaches – some of which are borrowed from astrophysics – are suitable not only for visualising a particle but also for making statements about its chemical composition. This exploits the fact that matter interacts with electromagnetic waves and leaves behind a characteristic fingerprint – a spectrum. This allows the plastic particles to be assigned to their original material, e.g. polyethylene, polystyrene or PVC. While this works well for sufficiently large pieces of plastic, the challenge for researchers is to achieve this fingerprinting for small and tiny particles. Dr Oliver Otto "The transport of microplastics into cells has biological consequences for tissue. At ZIK HIKE, we have already developed methods for researching cardiovascular diseases using biomechanics and nanotechnology, which we will use here." "We also want the process to be simple and fast," emphasises Prof. Mihaela Delcea from ZIK HIKE. Initial results are expected in two years' time, which will enable us to better answer questions about the extent to which microplastic particles are one of the causes of neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases or even cancer in the near future.

Contact addresses:

Dr Kristian Wende
ZIK plasmatis
Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP)
Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 2
17489 Greifswald
Tel.:
Email: kristian.wende@inp-greifswald.de

Dr Oliver Otto
ZIK-HIKE
Fleischmannstraße 42
17489 Greifswald
Tel.:
Email: Biomech.HGW@gmail.com

Prof. Dr. Martin Roth
ZIK innoFSPEC
Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam (AIP)
At the Observatory 16
14482 Potsdam
Tel.:
Email: mmroth@aip.de

Greifswald, 30 September 2020. Prof. Klaus Dieter Weltmann was awarded the "Macher30 – der Ehrenpreis des Ostens" (Macher30 – the Honorary Award of the East) on 29 September.

Honourable award for the long-standing Chairman of the Executive Board and Scientific Director at the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP) Professor Klaus-Dieter Weltmann: On 29 September 2020, the renowned physicist was awarded the "Macher30 – the Honorary Prize of the East" in the Science category. The INP is one of the world's leading research institutes in the field of physical plasmas for both research and technical applications.

Macher30 is an initiative of the Association of Berlin Merchants and Industrialists (VBKI), the East German Banking Association (OstBV), Egon Zehnder International (EZI) and the European School of Management and Technology (ESMT Berlin). Companies or projects led by the "Macher" must have their origins in the new federal states but have a supra-regional impact. The eleven-member jury honours Klaus-Dieter Weltmann's commitment to the eastern region with this award.

"From idea to prototype" is the INP mission statement, which was initiated and significantly shaped by Prof. Weltmann. Born in Rügen, he studied in Greifswald, Brno in the Czech Republic and Morgantown in West Virginia. He received his doctorate in applied physics in 1993. In 1995, he joined ABB Switzerland AG in Zurich, where he most recently represented the group worldwide as Business Unit Manager R&D for gas-insulated switchgear in the high-voltage technology division. At the same time, Prof. Weltmann was a lecturer at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences.

With this international expertise in science and business, Prof. Weltmann returned to Vorpommern in 2003. "The offer to take over the management of the INP was a new and exciting challenge and gave me the opportunity to work in my home region again. At the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology, I had the opportunity to provide new scientific impetus and use my accumulated industrial experience for a successful transfer of knowledge and technology," says the scientist.

And he has achieved this impressively through the strategic repositioning of the institute. The successful cooperation with industry is exemplified by the increase in industrial funding. After Weltmann's appointment as Chairman of the Executive Board, the institute's income from contract research increased almost tenfold between 2003 and 2005. In the years that followed, they doubled again. "Something like this can only work with a huge effort from the entire team and change management that consistently involves employees," says the physicist, summing up the situation.

As part of a specially developed spin-off concept – another pillar of Weltmann's research transfer activities – five successful spin-offs have been launched in recent years, providing jobs for highly qualified specialists in a rather structurally weak region.

Another success recognised by Klaus-Dieter Weltmann's award is his tireless dedication, his unshakeable belief in the idea and his fight against various forms of resistance from sceptics who did not believe in the long-term success of establishing plasma medicine research at the INP. The institute is now a world leader in this field. This achievement was recognised internationally in 2014 with the Plasma Medine Award, which is awarded on the basis of a global search ( ). In cooperation with the University of Greifswald, the institute has also succeeded in initiating the world's first professorship for plasma medicine and filling it jointly with the university.

Since Klaus-Dieter Weltmann took office, successful collaborations have led to the establishment of two strategic branch offices at the University of Rostock and at the Karlsburg Clinic in cooperation with local partners.

About INP Greifswald:
At the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), the largest non-university research facility for low-temperature plasmas in Europe, around 200 employees conduct research into plasma-based processes and technologies that can be used for coating surfaces, decontaminating food, cleaning waste water and exhaust air, as well as in the medical industry and electrical engineering. The institute conducts application-oriented fundamental research and offers its industrial partners customer-specific solutions as well as services such as feasibility studies and consulting. Many of the innovations developed at INP have already led to the development of marketable products and services. The INP also actively promotes the training and further education of young scientists and engineers in the field of low-temperature plasma physics in cooperation with universities, research institutions and industry. It is organised as a non-profit association and has been a member of the Leibniz Association (www.leibniz-gemeinschaft.de) since its foundation.

For further information:
Nadja Dahlhaus
Communications / Public Relations
Tel.: +49 3834 554 313
dahlhaus@inp-greifswald.de
www.leibniz-inp.de

01/09/2020

State Secretary Rudolph: Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is a pioneer in plasma medicine / First clinical study proves faster wound healing with plasma

Karlsburg, 1 September 2020. The Kompetenzzentrum Diabetes Karlsburg (KDK) is celebrating an outstanding success on 1 September 2020: for the first time, a clinical study has scientifically confirmed that physical plasma has a significant positive effect on chronic wounds and leads to faster healing of diabetic foot syndrome. This was made possible by close cooperation between medical professionals, scientists and entrepreneurs. Partners in the user-initiated study for better wound care for patients were the Heart and Diabetes Centre North Rhine-Westphalia (HDZ NRW) in Bad Oeynhausen, the Heart and Diabetes Centre Karlsburg, the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP) and the Greifswald-based company neoplas med GmbH. The scientific results were recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA Network Open).

State funding for KDK
Dr Stefan Rudolph, State Secretary in the Ministry of Economics of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, praised the pioneering role of the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in the development of plasma medicine in his statement. According to Rudolph, the foundations for this were laid at the INP. The institute was one of the first scientific institutions worldwide whose application-oriented research and development led to the first certified plasma medical product, the Plasmajet kINPen® MED, in 2013. The device was brought to market and thus to patients by a spin-off of the institute, the company neoplas med GmbH. For the CEO and Scientific Director of the INP, the device is a prime example of successful technology transfer. "Within just a few years, we have managed to turn an idea into a finished product on the market that has been proven to benefit patients with chronic conditions. I am delighted that the collaboration between scientists, founders and clinicians is working so well and that we can count on the support of politicians," said Prof. Dr. Klaus-Dieter Weltmann. The Kompetenzzentrum Diabetes Karlsburg (KDK) was set up specifically to promote synergy effects between research and practice. The state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania has provided 2.5 million euros in funding for the establishment of the KDK. Since 2016, scientists have been working literally at the patient's bedside.
State Secretary Rudolph emphasised: "When the foundation stone was laid in Karlsburg for the construction of the Kompetenzzentrum Diabetes Karlsburg, which was intended to further intensify cooperation between research and medicine, our main focus was on improving wound care for diabetes patients. I am delighted that these hopes have been fulfilled."

The Karlsburg Clinic was open to the new development from Greifswald right from the start. Plasma medicine quickly found its way into everyday clinical practice. "We were one of the first clinics in Europe to use cold plasma on patients. The study confirms our positive experiences in everyday clinical practice. Plasma is effective in treating chronic wounds," explained Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Motz, Medical Director of the Karlsburg Clinic. Diabetic foot syndrome is now regularly treated with kINPen® MED at his clinic. "The course of the disease in patients with diabetic foot syndrome is usually complex and can drag on for weeks. Accelerated wound healing significantly improves the quality of life of this patient group," said Prof. Motz. Plasma treatment not only kills microorganisms and thus combats infections, but also actively accelerates tissue regeneration.
"We are delighted that clinical evidence of the benefits of cold plasma therapy is now available," says Ulrike Sailer, managing partner of neoplas med. "With this data behind us, we now want to enter into dialogue with statutory health insurance companies so that patients in Germany can benefit from this future-oriented technology as soon as possible."

62 wound healings examined in study
The clinical study examined 62 wounds caused by diabetic foot in 43 hospitalised patients whose wounds showed no signs of healing after three weeks of standard therapy. The patients were randomly divided into two groups of 31 wounds each. After 14 days of treatment, the wound surface area of the wounds treated with cold plasma had reduced by an average of 69.5 percent. In the placebo group, the reduction was 44.8 percent. "The healing process was significantly accelerated with cold plasma therapy, which led to faster wound closure, according t ," explained the head of the clinical trial, Prof. Dr. Diethelm Tschöpe, Director of the Diabetes Centre at HDZ NRW, who is also Chairman of the KDK Advisory Board. Study director PD Dr. Bernd Stratmann from the Diabetes Centre in Bad Oeynhausen also noted high patient tolerability. No side effects were observed. At the event, Prof. Tschöpe emphasised that cold plasma treatments are also relevant from a health economics perspective. Faster wound healing enables earlier discharge from the clinic. The treatment of chronic wounds costs the healthcare system around 10,000 euros per year per patient. In Germany, around 900,000 people suffer from chronic wounds, i.e. wounds that heal poorly or not at all. One of the most common causes of chronic wounds is diabetic foot syndrome.

Further fields of application in sight
Intensive work is already underway to develop further areas of application, for example in cardiology and cancer therapy. During the event in Karlsburg, State Secretary Rudolph expressed his satisfaction with the development of plasma medicine in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: "It's great when the state promotes research, local companies bring products to market and the people in our state benefit directly from the new therapies. What we have achieved here in plasma medicine is unique." That is why the cooperation between research and medicine in Karlsburg is to be further intensified.

25 August 2020

An international research team led by the University of Bern has succeeded in developing an electrocatalyst for hydrogen fuel cells that, unlike the catalysts commonly used today, does not require a carbon carrier and is therefore significantly more stable. The new process is industrially applicable and can be used to further optimise fuel cell-powered vehicles without CO2 emissions.

Fuel cells are gaining importance as an alternative to battery-powered electric mobility in heavy-duty transport, especially since hydrogen is a CO2-neutral energy source when obtained from renewable sources. To work efficiently, fuel cells require an electrocatalyst that improves the electrochemical reaction that generates electricity. The catalysts made of platinum-cobalt nanoparticles that are currently used as standard for this purpose have good catalytic properties and require only as little of the rare and expensive platinum as necessary. In order for the catalyst to be used in the fuel cell, it must have a surface with very small platinum-cobalt particles in the nanometre range, which are applied to a conductive carbon carrier material. Since the small particles and the carbon in the fuel cell are exposed to corrosion, the cell loses efficiency and stability over time.

An international team led by Professor Matthias Arenz from the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry (DCB) at the University of Bern has now succeeded in using a special process to produce an electrocatalyst without a carbon carrier. Unlike existing catalysts, it consists of a thin metal network and is therefore more durable. "The catalyst we have developed achieves high performance and promises stable fuel cell operation even at higher temperatures and high current densities," says Matthias Arenz. The results were published in the journal Nature Materials. The study is an international collaboration between the DCB and other institutions, including the University of Copenhagen and the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology, which also made use of the infrastructure of the Swiss Light Source (SLS) at the Paul Scherrer Institute.

The fuel cell – direct power generation without combustion
In a hydrogen fuel cell, hydrogen atoms are split to generate electricity directly. To do this, hydrogen is fed to an electrode, where it is split into positively charged protons and negatively charged electrons. The electrons flow through the electrode via a high- e and generate electricity outside the cell, which can be used to power a vehicle engine, for example. The protons pass through a membrane that is only permeable to protons and react on the other side with oxygen from the air at a second electrode coated with a catalyst (in this case a platinum-cobalt alloy network), producing water vapour. This is discharged via the "exhaust".

The important role of the electrocatalyst
In order for the fuel cell to produce electricity, both electrodes must be coated with a catalyst. Without a catalyst, the chemical reactions would proceed very slowly. This is particularly true for the second electrode, the oxygen electrode. However, the platinum-cobalt nanoparticles in the catalyst can "melt together" when used in a vehicle. This reduces the surface area of the catalyst and thus the performance of the cell. In addition, the carbon that is usually used to secure the catalyst can corrode when used in road traffic. This impairs the service life of the fuel cell and thus of the vehicle. "Our motivation was therefore to produce an electrocatalyst without a carbon carrier that is still effective," explains Matthias Arenz. Previous, similar catalysts without a carrier material have always had a reduced surface area. Because the size of the surface area is crucial for the activity of the catalyst and thus its performance, these were less suitable for industrial use.

Technology is suitable for industrial use
The researchers were able to put their idea into practice thanks to a special process known as cathode sputtering. In this method, individual atoms of a material (in this case platinum or cobalt) are removed (sputtered) by bombarding them with ions. The removed gaseous atoms then condense to form an adhesive layer. "The special sputtering process and subsequent treatment enable a highly porous structure to be achieved, which gives the catalyst a large surface area and is also self-supporting. This eliminates the need for a carbon carrier," explains Dr Gustav Sievers, lead author of the study from the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology.

"This technology is industrially scalable and can therefore also be used for larger production volumes, for example in the automotive industry," says Matthias Arenz. The process can be used to further optimise hydrogen fuel cells for use in road transport. "Our findings are therefore important for the further development of sustainable energy use, especially in view of current developments in the heavy-duty mobility sector," says Arenz.

The study was funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF), the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the Danish National Research Foundation Centre for High-Entropy Alloy Catalysis, among others.

Greifswald, 22 July 2020

Prof. Thomas von Woedtke was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP) at the last meeting of the Board of Trustees in June.

The head of the Plasma Medicine research programme, Prof. Thomas von Woedtke, was unanimously elected as a new member of the Board of Directors by the members of the Board of Trustees in June. "The appointment of Prof. v. Woedtke strengthens the interdisciplinary scientific basis of the Board of Directors," said Prof. Klaus-Dieter Weltmann, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Scientific Director of the INP. With his appointment, the Greifswald-based pharmacist joins Prof. Klaus-Dieter Weltmann, Prof. Dirk Uhrlandt and Jens Berger to complete the four-member management team of the Greifswald Leibniz Institute. During his initial five-year term, he will focus in particular on promoting young talent and research, public relations, and scientific and operational activities. "I am very much looking forward to my new role and the challenge of working with my colleagues to support and advance the work in the individual areas," explains Prof. v. Woedtke.

At the same time, the Board of Directors bids farewell to Ms Nadja Dahlhaus, who will be taking on new responsibilities in the field of public relations at the INP at the end of her term of office. "We would like to thank Ms Dahlhaus very much for her many years of intensive and reliable work on the Board of Directors. Thanks to her commitment, we have been able to break new ground, particularly in the area of administration, and we are losing a valued and loyal partner on the Board," said Prof. Weltmann.

Prof. von Woedtke has been working at the INP for fifteen years. Since 2008, he has been Scientific Director of the Plasma Medicine research programme. In 2011, he also took up the world's first professorship in plasma medicine at the University Medical Centre Greifswald. Prof. von Woedtke's research focuses primarily on the in vitro effects of physical plasma on liquids, organisms and cells with a view to scientifically preparing and supporting therapeutic applications. The main goal of this work is to improve the characterisation and control of the physical properties of cold atmospheric pressure plasmas in interaction with living systems in order to redesign and optimise plasma devices for medical applications and thus open up new areas of application.

About INP Greifswald:

At the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), the largest non-university research facility for low-temperature plasmas in Europe, around 200 employees conduct research into plasma-based processes and technologies that can be used for coating surfaces, decontaminating food, purifying waste water and exhaust air, as well as in the medical industry and electrical engineering. The institute conducts application-oriented fundamental research and offers its industrial partners customer-specific solutions as well as services such as feasibility studies and consulting. Many of the innovations developed at INP have already led to the development of marketable products and services. The INP also actively promotes the training and further education of young scientists and engineers in the field of low-temperature plasma physics in cooperation with universities, research institutions and industry. It is organised as a non-profit association and has been a member of the Leibniz Association (www.leibniz-gemeinschaft.de) since its foundation.

What is plasma?

We encounter plasma every day, even if we are hardly aware of it. Approximately 90% of the visible matter in the universe is in a plasma state. It is the fourth state of matter after solid, liquid and gas. The electrically conductive mixture of atoms, ions, electrons and molecules is created when energy is added to a neutral gas. It begins to glow. We encounter this natural phenomenon in nature in the form of the sun, lightning and the aurora borealis.

18 June 2020

The research project "H2BS – Novel barrier layers for cost-effective and high-strength steels for hydrogen technology" is providing new impetus in hydrogen technology. Together with the Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht – Centre for Materials and Coastal Research (HZG) and the Max Planck Institute for Iron Research (MPIE) in Düsseldorf, the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP) in Greifswald is researching novel hydrogen barrier layers for use on cost-effective and high-strength steels.

Hydrogen is one of the main players in the energy transition. The possibility of producing it from water and renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power using electrolysers makes it an ideal green energy storage medium. Hydrogen can also be stored and distributed in proportion to demand in the existing gas network. As a fuel for emission-free fuel cell vehicles, hydrogen is already an integral part of the mobility of the future. Due to its relatively low energy density ( ), hydrogen must be stored and transported in gaseous form under high pressure or in liquid form. In order to establish hydrogen as the energy carrier of the future, innovative solutions are therefore needed for safe and efficient storage and handling under the conditions mentioned above. Safe, volume-efficient, lightweight and cost-effective solutions are required for this purpose.

High-alloy steels, carbon-based or polymer-based materials are mainly used in existing tanks, pipes and fittings. However, these are either expensive or permeable and associated with high fuel loss rates. More cost-effective steels are subject to hydrogen-induced corrosion. This involves hydrogen penetrating the steel structure, causing the material to become brittle and crack. This means that these materials are currently unsuitable for storing hydrogen. This is precisely where the scientists from the three research institutions come in. Over a period of 24 months, they are working together to develop plasma processes for the production of so-called barrier layers, which are designed to prevent hydrogen from penetrating the steel surface. If successful, this will enable the use of lower-cost steels, which have not previously been considered for hydrogen technology, in the manufacture of hydrogen tanks and other components for the hydrogen infrastructure, thereby enabling more affordable systems for mobile and stationary hydrogen applications.

1. part of the project, the INP is developing vacuum and atmospheric pressure-based plasma processes for coating and treating the surface. "The challenge is to create a coating with the properties required for hydrogen storage," explains project manager Dr Angela Kruth, head of the "Materials for Energy Technology" research group at INP. The result must "withstand the significant requirements such as extreme pressure ranges under which hydrogen is used today, for example in mobility". In investigations based on state-of-the-art structural analyses using electron microscopy at the MPIE in Düsseldorf, the first results of the barrier coating are already visible on an atomic scale. The stability of the steel will then be investigated in more detail before and after hydrogen storage in micromechanical tests at the MPIE and under hydrogen storage conditions in high-pressure permeation measurements at the HZG.

The joint research work focuses in particular on the storage of hydrogen in metal hydrides – a promising alternative to high-pressure and cryogenic tanks. By combining metals with hydrogen, known as metal hydrides, an astonishing amount of gas can be absorbed, meaning that twice as much hydrogen can be stored in a container of the same size. The Helmholtz Centre in Geesthacht is a leader in the field of metal hydride development. At the HZG's Hydrogen Technology Centre, the effectiveness of the coating against embrittlement can be tested and evaluated under real conditions.

"We are delighted to be opening up new avenues for hydrogen technology with this interdisciplinary network of experts," says Dr Kruth. At the end of the project, the fundamentals for a coating process for producing barrier layers with defined properties should be available. These will protect the various steel materials sufficiently against the diffusion of hydrogen in and through them in accordance with the planned operating conditions, thus successfully preventing embrittlement. In a follow-up project, these coating technologies will then be optimised for specific, real-life components in hydrogen technology, both for stationary storage tanks and for maritime mobility and other hydrogen systems.

The project is being supported by an industry committee comprising experts from the automotive and mechanical engineering sectors and is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy through the German Federation of Industrial Research Associations (AiF) as part of the programme for the promotion of industrial collective research and development (IGF).

22 April 2020

Revolutionary hand disinfection system for public places

Researchers at the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP) in Greifswald are developing a new type of disinfectant and presenting a pilot plant for hand disinfection.

In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, a new disinfection process developed by Nebula Biocides GmbH, a spin-off of the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), is gaining in importance. The first pilot plant was presented yesterday during a test run at the Elisen Park shopping centre in Greifswald.

"Since 2016, we have been researching a highly effective disinfectant that works within 30 seconds against both stubborn bacterial spores and resistant viruses," explain Dr Jörn Winter and Dr Ansgar Schmidt-Bleker, researchers at INP and managing directors of Nebula Biocides GmbH. "Based on this process, we are working on a new type of disinfection system that allows hand disinfection in highly frequented locations such as train stations, airports, schools and hospitals," say the two researchers. The dispenser system is specially designed for public places where many people come into contact with each other. "The health and safety of our customers is always our top priority. Hygiene is of course extremely important, especially in the current situation, and since this week, a few more shops have been allowed to reopen at Elisen Park Greifswald. We are therefore particularly pleased to be able to introduce this innovative disinfection method to our customers at this time," said Karin Rüdiger, Centre Manager at Elisen Park. The pilot system already allows 18 people to disinfect their hands at the same time. The disinfection system has a modular design and is self-sufficient except for the water supply. The active ingredient is produced directly in the device from concentrates. This means that approximately 1 million hand disinfections can be carried out with a single concentrate filling. The process is therefore ideal for all locations with high public traffic.

Previous disinfectants are mostly alcohol-based, expensive and highly flammable. In addition, standard disinfectant dispensers require intensive maintenance and are not protected against vandalism. The two-component disinfectant system "Sporosan" from Nebula Biocides GmbH is not only effective against all pathogens, but also extremely cost-effective at around 10 cents per litre. This is 100 times cheaper than the current price per litre for alcohol-based hand disinfectants. In addition, the innovative disinfectant is water-based and, unlike conventional solutions, is non-flammable. After hand disinfection, the active ingredients break down into water and natural residues, making them completely biodegradable. A particular advantage of this rapid decomposition is that it makes theft of the active ingredient impossible, as has been observed frequently in hospitals and other public institutions in recent times ( ).

In years of preliminary investigations by INP and Nebula Biocides GmbH, the effectiveness, basic compatibility and safety of the process have already been confirmed in accredited laboratories – however, the process has not yet been approved. "We submitted a request for preliminary talks to the responsible Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA) at the beginning of 2019," reports Dr Schmidt-Bleker. However, the BAuA stated that it "cannot undertake the assessment due to limited capacity".

Close cooperation with the relevant state ministries is currently underway to determine how the disinfection system can be made available to the public as quickly as possible. This would require the approval process to be initiated quickly or a special permit to be granted. Until then, the disinfection system can also be operated using conventional means. "This is not nearly as efficient and cost-effective as our active ingredient, but it is an important step towards improving hygiene in public places," said Dr Jörn Winter. The founders hope that the disinfection system can go into series production as soon as possible and thus help to contain the current coronavirus pandemic.

The development of the dispenser system was funded as part of the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Health Economy Ideas Competition. Other supporters include BSG Sondermaschinenbau GmbH and Formitas AG, the hygiene institutes Dr. Brill + Partner GmbH and Hygiene Nord GmbH, and Witeno GmbH.

Scientifical contact:
Dr. Jörn Winter - Leitung Gruppe Plasmaquellen
Tel.: +49 3834 - 554 3867
winter@inp-greifswald.de
www.leibniz-inp.de

27 February 2020

CAMPFIRE Partner Workshop on Electroceramic Thin Films

The partners in the thin film product category held the first PK1 workshop of the implementation phase on 27 February. We were pleased to welcome renowned scientists from all over Germany, including world-leading experts in the fields of ceramic materials, membranes and catalysis, as guests to the workshop. We would like to express our special thanks to Professor Dr. Jürgen Caro, Institute for Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry at Leibniz University Hannover, Dr. Theodor Schneller, Institute for Electrical Engineering Materials II at RWTH Aachen University, Dr. Ralf Kriegel, High Temperature Separation and Catalysis at the Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems, Dr. Mariya Ivanova, Gas Separation Membranes Working Group at Forschungszentrum Jülich, and Dr.-Ing. Christian Vedder, Thin Film Process Technology at Thin Film Processing at the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT, for their groundbreaking keynote speeches and important input for the implementation of the Campfire projects. In the afternoon, there was an exciting brainstorming session and exchange of ideas for the further development of thin-film-based technologies for the production and use of ammonia. We look forward to future projects and new partnerships to implement our vision.

24 February 2020

Emissions-free on the Ryck and Bodden

On 24 February, a kick-off meeting for a new regional green ferry connection was held at the INP, organised by CAMPFIRE and the University and Hanseatic City of Greifswald. Against the backdrop of the ongoing development of the tourism concept in the coastal region, the participants are striving to establish an emission-free ferry connection between the Greifswald Museum Harbour, the former fishing village of Wieck and Ludwigsburg Castle. The aim is to operate an emission-free ferry route of approximately 5 km along the Ryck River and approximately 3 km across the Dänische Wieck of the Greifswald Bodden in the future. Important impetus for the implementation of a ferry connection using fuel cells and hydrogen was provided to the partners by Professor Gerd Holbach from the Institute for Land and Sea Transport – Ship and Marine Technology at the Technical University of Berlin. We would like to thank Professor Holbach and all other participants in the meeting for the inspiring discussions and look forward to further cooperation.

4 February 2020

Foundation stone laid for the new Centre for Life Science and Plasma Technology

In the presence of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Minister for Economic Affairs, Labour and Health Harry Glawe and Mayor of Greifswald Dr Stefan Fassbinder, the symbolic foundation stone was laid for the new Centre for Life Science and Plasma Technology.

"This project will lay the foundations for even more research and development in the Hanseatic city," emphasised Economics Minister Glawe. In her speech, the Chancellor described Greifswald as a "jewel in the field of pharmacology, life sciences and plasma technology" and underlined that the north is at the forefront when it comes to science and research.

The building will house a specialist research, service and start-up centre. It will offer space for over 200 new jobs on 5,500 square metres.

The Life Science Centre is scheduled to go into operation as early as 2022. We are delighted about the expansion of Greifswald as a location for plasma technologies and the new opportunities this will create.

Der NDR war mit einem Team dabei und hat den Moment festgehalten.