International Center

Session 1: Water as a sustainable resource – analysis and purification strategies

• Wednesday, May 10th, 15:45 - 17:45 in room 133 (Beethovenstr. 1)
• Speakers:
  • Prof. Dr. Alexandra C. Stenson, University of South Alabama (USA)
  • Thomas Lucke, State Water Supply Langenau
  • Prof. Dr. Hans-Dieter Junker, Aalen University
  • Prof. Dr. Christian Neusüß, Aalen University
• Optional chemistry lab tour from 17:45 - 18:45

Session 2: Corporate social responsibility, new work and health

• Thursday, May 11th, 15:45 - 17:45 in room 106 
• Moderator: Prof. Dr. Anja Dieckmann, Aalen University
• Speakers:
  • Prof. Dr. Dilek Zamantili Nayir, Turkish German University (Turkey)
    • Cooperation, Competition or Stepping on Each Other’s Toes? Food Recovery Networks in Non-WEIRD Contexts
  • Prof. Dr. Regina Kempen, Aalen University
    • Corporate Social Responsibility – An Attributional Perspective
  • Prof. Dr. Laetus Lategan, Central University of Technology (South Africa) and Prof. Dr. Ulrich Holzbaur, Aalen University
    • Corporate Social Responsibility for Universities – Guiding Principle and Essential Purpose for 20 Years of Collaboration
• Optional walk on Aalen University’s Sustainability Trail from 12:30 - 14:00 from main entrance (Beethovenstr. 1)
• Optional networking event for international guests and Aalen University members from 18:00 - 19:30 in room 101 (Beethovenstr. 1)

Session 3: Energy systems of the future

• Friday, May 12th, 09:45 – 11:30 in room 133
• Moderator: Prof. Dr. Hans-Dieter Junker, Aalen University
• Keynote Speaker Prof. Dr. Ferdi Schüth is a Director at the Max Planck Institute for Coal Research in Mülheim/Ruhr. The renowned chemist is also Vice-President of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.
  • Energy carriers are increasingly losing importance and are being replaced by renewable energies , especially wind energy and photovoltaics. As a result, electrical energy will increasingly dominate the energy systems. However, in many areas material energy storage and carriers will remain of great importance. Hydrogen is easily accessible from electrical energy and therefore plays a key role. It can be attractive to use it directly, for example in fuel cells for reverse power generation. Alternatively, it can be converted into other energy-rich molecules that are more suitable for various purposes. The presentation will discuss the elements of future energy systems, with a focus on the role of hydrogen.

Session 4: Sustainable use of resources – circular economy

• Monday, May 15th, 15:45 - 17:35 in room 133
• Moderator: Dr. Christian Baron, Aalen University
• Speakers: 
  • Prof. Dr.-Ing. Iman Taha, Plastics Engineering, Aalen University
    • Biopolymers – A solution to all plastic problems? 
    • The talk will shed the light on the meaning of biopolymers, their current fields of application and market share. It will provide an insight into the chances and challenges associated with this emerging class of polymer materials. Last but not least, a critical but optimistic view towards a more sustainable future, taking the various elements of a circular economy and addressing the role and responsibilities of the main key players will be shared.
  • Dr. Christian Baron, Plastics Engineering, Aalen University
    • Paper or plastic, you decide
    • It is simple to choose the right material, do you agree? Together we explore how our decisions effect the materials we use in our current and future economy. We experiment shifting our focus on and away from materials, as well as why and how we use them.
  • Christopher Rockinger, Centre for Virtual Product Development, Aalen University
    • 3D printing with renewable raw materials
    • To extend the product life cycle of consumer products, the development of digital spare parts will positively impact the ecological future for household appliances. In this way, users will be able to use digitized spare parts to produce the needed part using standard household 3D printers by the usage of environmentally friendly or biodegradable materials on demand.
  • Josef Tomas, Centre for Virtual Product Development, Aalen University
    • 3D metal printing for resource-efficient lightweight construction
    • Additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, is an emerging and forward-looking manufacturing process that is completely different from conventional manufacturing methods and helps research and industry to achieve completely new possibilities. This results in enormous flexibility and design freedom, for example in the production of prototypes and in series production. With additive manufacturing, it is possible to produce parts that are not possible with conventional processes, thus saving energy and resources.
  • Hang Liu, Aalen University
    • Hydrophobic biopolymer foils by mechanical micropatterning (Poster pitch)
• Optional lab tour in the new research building from 17:45 - 18:45

Session 5: Efficient energy storage

• Tuesday, May 16th, 15:45 - 18:15 in room 133
• Moderator: Prof. Dr. Timo Sörgel, Aalen University
• Speakers:
  • Prof. Dr. Ismael Saadoune, IMED-Lab, Cadi Ayyad University (Morocco)
    • Lithium-ion Batteries as a Convenient Energy Storage Technology: Basics and Future challenges
  • Dr. Wassima ElMofid, Centre for Electrochemical Surface Technology, Aalen University
    • Composite electroforming as novel manufacturing process of additive-free battery electrodes
    • Since 2012, Aalen University has been intensively researching the first combination of composite plating and electroforming (composite electroforming) for the fabrication of novel electrodes for lithium-sulfur and lithium-ion batteries. Composite electroforming can be used to produce composite metal foils (Nickel or Aluminum) with embedded active material in a one-step process. Thus, the electrochemically deposited metal matrix simultaneously performs the function of a current collector, binder as well as a conductive additive. Contrary to the state of the art, this allows for the first time a synergistic optimization of the mechanical and electrical bonding of the active material.
  • Dr. Pinar Kaya, Materials Research Institute (IMFAA), Aalen University
    • A journey towards the batteries of today and future in Aalen
    • The exciting aspects of battery research at IMFAA in Aalen University involve many topics, from the development of new types of electrodes (e.g., Ca2V2O7 anodes) and innovative processes (e.g., Laser structuring of electrodes); to research into next-generation batteries (e.g., Solid-state batteries, Na-ion technology); quality assurance (e.g., Cell characterization) to digital data management of battery materials (e.g., Machine learning methods). In this talk, an overview of the recent and future projects will be presented.
  • Estefane Barbosa Sà, Materials Research Institute (IMFAA), Aalen University
    • A look inside a commercial lithium-ion battery: cell characterization to describe structure-property relationships
    • The energy density, C-rate capability, and lifetime of Lithium-Ion batteries depend largely on the microstructural features of the materials and electrodes. In addition to macroscopic parameters such as layer thickness and mass loading, microscopic properties like electrode porosity and homogeneity are crucial factors in determining cell performance and durability. However, microscopic properties are hard to access and call for a practical, efficient, and reproducible multiscale characterization workflow. This work focuses on characterizing a commercially available high-energy 21700 Lithium-ion battery to gain a better understanding of its microstructural, chemical, and electrochemical properties.
  • Dr. Leticia Trezecik Silvano, Materials Research Institute (IMFAA), Aalen University
    • Ca2V2O7 as an anode-active material for lithium-ion batteries: Effect of conductive additive and mass loading on electrochemical performance
    • Energy storage is crucial for renewable sources, with lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) being the most powerful technology. Vanadates have potential as anode material, especially Ca2V2O7, but few studies have explored it. This work focuses on creating a stable and cyclable cell using CVO as an alternative to LIBs, investigating the effect of conductive additives on electrodes. The study reveals that adding 10 wt.% C65 increases electrode capacity by up to 30%, with 235 mAh/gAM at C/10 and retained capacity of 39% after 300 cycles at 1C. Results suggest that CVO could be a promising anode material for LIB energy storage systems.
• Optional lab tour in the new research building from 18:15 - 19:00

The registration for the international week is closed. The International Center of Aalen University looks forward to welcoming you to our campus in Germany in May 2023. We are honored that you visit us from May 10th to May 16th. During the “International Week”, we celebrate our 60th anniversary, host a scientific symposium and offer a cultural program for international guests. Please find more info and dates below. Don’t hesitate to contact us at: international@hs-aalen.de

Here some documents that might be of interest to prepare your stay in Aalen:

Aalen International Program brochure for interested exchange students

Image Video Study abroad at Aalen University

Aalen City Guide of Tourist Information