The Collaborative Research Centre (CRC) “Iron, Reinvented!” will be extended into a second funding phase from summer 2026 until the end of 2029, following the success of its research activities. This continuation underscores the significance of sustainable materials research in Germany and marks a strong commitment to its advancement.
The CRC focuses on the fundamental question of how materials and processes can be designed in the future without relying on rare, toxic, or critical elements. Such substances remain indispensable in many key technologies, including electronics, industrial catalysts, and magnetic applications. The overarching goal of the CRC is to systematically explore iron as a sustainable, abundant, and environmentally friendly alternative.
Under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Ulrike Kramm (TU Darmstadt), researchers from several universities and research institutions collaborate within the CRC. These include the Rhine-Main Universities Frankfurt and Mainz, as well as the Universities of Heidelberg, Paderborn, and Bayreuth, the Technical University of Munich, and the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion.
The TUM Campus Straubing is also involved in the successfully extended research network: the Professorship of Sustainable Energy Materials, led by Prof. Dr. Marc Ledendecker, contributes to the investigation of iron-based materials within subproject C06, “Influence of the Coordination and Surrounding of Iron-Based Materials on the Electrochemical Stability.” The focus lies on the targeted modulation of electrochemical stability—an essential aspect for sustainable energy systems and future applications.
Iron is considered a promising key material due to its global availability, low cost, and comparatively low environmental impact. At the same time, its high reactivity presents a significant challenge. The CRC therefore pursues the vision of controlling the chemical environment of iron in a targeted manner to tailor its properties for sustainable applications.
Potential fields of application range from resource-efficient production of basic chemicals and uses in fuel cells to innovative magnetic materials, for example in cooling systems or wind energy technologies. Through its participation in the extended CRC, the TUM Campus Straubing makes an important contribution to the development of these future technologies.