Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)

Thin-Film Solar Cells Generate as Much Energy as Traditional Ones

Scientists have become the first to achieve an energy efficiency of 25 percent with a thin-film solar cell. This means that this wafer-thin solar cell generates as much energy as a traditional silicon solar cell.

InnovationLab GmbH

InnovationLab GmbH was established in 2008. At first, it received funding from the government (from Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung). However, since 2013 it claims to be standing on its own feet and to be cash-flow positive.

Fastest High-precision 3D Printer

3D printers working in the millimeter range and larger are increasingly used in industrial production processes. Many applications, however, require precise printing on the micrometer scale at a far higher speed.

Smart Knee Bandage for Relief of Arthrosis Patients

A smart knee bandage supports arthrosis patients in determining the right amount of daily exercise. All relevant data on the strains of the joints are collected and transferred to the patient's mobile phone.

Calcium batteries: New electrolytes, enhanced properties

Calcium-based batteries promise to reach a high energy density at low manufacturing costs. This lab-scale technology has the potential for replacing lithium-ion technology in future energy storage systems.

Tandem Solar Modules: One-two combination packs a more powerful punch

The efficiency ceiling of commercially available solar modules leaves little room for improvement. Tandem solar modules with two light-harvesting active layers have far greater potential. The future could well belong to this promising technology.

Carbon-neutral fuels from air and green power

Several challenges associated with the energy transition can be managed by coupling the sectors of electric power and mobility. Green power could be stored in the long term, fuels of high energy density could be used in a carbon-neutral way.

Artificial intelligence improves power transmission

To integrate the usually volatile renewable sources into energy supply, capacities of the power grid have to be increased. The need for new lines can be reduced by better utilization of existing lines as a function of weather conditions. To this end, researchers work on self-learning sensor networks to model the cooling effect of weather based on real data within the "PrognoNetz" project.

Europe-wide research for future batteries

To successfully implement the energy transition and to store regenerative energy, better batteries are required. The European research initiative BATTERY 2030+ brings together leading scientists and companies from all over Europe to achieve major progress in battery science and technology.

Photovoltaics -- Versatile in shape and color

The goal of PRINTPERO is to develop digitally printed, highly efficient and stable solar modules that can be integrated into roofs, facades, and windows.

NADINE: Power-plant-scale energy storage

Energy storage systems that are able to cope with fluctuating wind and solar power production are indispensable for the success of the energy transition. So far, however, location-independent and low-cost power-plant-scale storage systems have still been lacking.

New benchmarks in energy storage research

Electrochemical energy storage is a key technology of the 21st century. Now, the Center for Electrochemical Energy Storage Ulm & Karlsruhe, one of the most ambitious research platforms in this area worldwide, has started operation.

3D inks that can be erased selectively

3D printing by direct laser writing enables production of micro-meter-sized structures for many applications, from biomedicine to microelectronics to optical metamaterials. Researchers have now developed 3D inks that can be erased selectively.

Robots and workers of the world, unite!

Robots are already changing the way we work - particularly in factories - but worries that they will steal our jobs are only part of the picture, as new technologies are also opening up workplace opportunities for workers and are likely to create new jobs in the future.

Prototype of robot maintenance assistant

A prototype of its collaborative robot which will act as the main platform for testing and developing new technologies related to the maintenance and repair of automation equipmentt.

Photovoltaics: Light absorption can be enhanced by up to 200 percent

Nanostructures optimize light absorption in black butterflies - principle can be transferred to photovoltaics for improving light harvesting in thin-film solar cells.

Solar powered sunglasses

Researchers present sunglasses with colored, semitransparent solar cells applied onto lenses that supply a microprocessor and two displays with electric power. This paves the way for other future applications such as the integration of organic solar cells into windows or overhead glazing.

Erasable ink for 3D printing

3D printing by direct laser writing produces micrometer-sized structures with precisely defined properties.

3D-Printing of glass now possible

Three-dimensional printing allows extremely small and complex structures to be made even in small series. A method developed by researchers for the first time allows also glass to be used for this technique.