DIFFER and the University of Twente have started a long-term collaboration on the fabrication and investigation of thin films for the energy transition. Applications are for example in the field of conversion and storage, like electrodes for water splitting or fuel cells.
High-quality thin films are required both for high performing energy devices as well as for operando studies to identify performance limitations, according to DIFFER scientists. Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) – the main expertise of UT – is the perfect tool here. In combination with the ion beam facility at DIFFER, fast characterization cycles for the optimization of thin-film quality are possible. The partners will closely work together on these topics and want to design and acquire a PLD tool that bridges the gap between a research device and an industrial tool. DIFFER will host and run the PLD as a user facility for academia and industry.
Yesterday, the collaboration kicked off with a mini-symposium on “Materials for Energy” with scientific presentations from Anja Bieberle, Purushothaman Varadhan, Nitin Puthuval Prasad (DIFFER) and Gertjan Koster, Emma van der Minne, Daniel Moneiro Cunha (UT).
After the presentation, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Guus Rijnders, professor Nanoelectronic Materials and Scientific director MESA+ Institute (UT) and Marco de Baar, director of DIFFER.
