OREANDA-NEWS. The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and Deutsche Nanoschicht GmbH have made it their goal to develop tailored high-temperature superconductors for energy technology applications. The research institute and the BASF subsidiary New Business GmbH have signed relevant cooperation agreements.

As part of the collaboration, the partners will open a laboratory at the Institute for Technical Physics of KIT in early 2015. Here, the scientists from Karlsruhe together with the experts of Deutsche Nanoschicht will optimize and customize superconducting thin film conductors for individual applications. Potential areas of use for the high temperature superconductors produced by Deutsche Nanoschicht are current limiters and transformers for public power grids, power cables for urban supply networks and coils for generators and electric motors. Depending on the application, the scientists have, for example, to adapt the properties of the superconductors for alternating current, very high current and in strong magnetic fields.

"KIT has extensive knowledge about the synthesis and use of superconductors. Cooperation with KIT therefore ideally complements our activities in building up our growth field E-Power Management," says Dr. Stefan Blank, Managing Director, BASF New Business GmbH.

"Our unique coating technology will make it possible in future to manufacture superconductors with the price-performance ratio necessary for them to be introduced broadly throughout the energy sector," adds Dr. Michael Backer, Managing Director of Deutsche Nanoschicht GmbH.

Prof. Dr. Bernhard Holzapfel of the Institute of Technical Physics at KIT will supervise the new laboratory. "The variable coating technology of Deutsche Nanoschicht enables the superconductors to be optimally adapted to the market requirements. We are looking forward to jointly further developing these superconductors for a wide variety of electrotechnical applications", adds Holzapfel.

Deutsche Nanoschicht has developed an innovative process for producing thin films by means of chemical solution deposition. This process allows high-temperature superconductors to be manufactured in a much more efficient and resource-conserving manner. These superconductors carry current virtually without loss, thereby allowing significant savings in generating and transporting electricity.

BASF's E-Power Management growth field includes technology developments, materials and solutions for the entire electricity value chain. It focuses on resource-conserving and efficient electricity generation, transmission, storage and the more efficient use of electrical energy.