Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

Active dripstone formation in a side area of the “Kleine Teufelshöhle.” Credit: KIT (taken as part of the HEiKA Project Check Extrema)Researchers from Heidelberg and Karlsruhe use stalagmite for the reconstruction of regional and global climatic history.Tree-ring data, when integrated with information from stalagmites, has enabled a team of researchers, including geoscientists from Heidelberg University and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, to access a distinctive archive for examining natural climate fluctuations…

The new molecular structure in which sandwich complexes form a nano-sized ring is called ‘cyclocene.’ Credit: Nature / AOC, KITNew Compounds for Organometallic Chemistry – Sandwich Complexes in the Form of Rings Are Kept Together by Their Own EnergySandwich compounds are special chemical compounds used as basic building blocks in organometallic chemistry. So far, their structure has always been linear. Recently, researchers of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and the University of Marburg were the first to make…

Assisted by AI methods, researchers are striving to improve the manufacturing processes for highly efficient perovskite solar cells. Credit: Amadeus Bramsiepe, KITArtificial intelligence techniques assist scientists in enhancing manufacturing procedures for highly efficient solar cells, serving as a blueprint for various other research fields.Perovskite tandem solar cells represent an advanced hybrid technology, merging a perovskite solar cell with a traditional solar cell, often made of silicon. This innovative approach…

Superabsorbers become liquid under UV light after they have taken up sufficient water. Then, they can be reused. Credit: Ken Pekarsky, KIT Water and UV radiation effectively and swiftly break down the crosslinked polymers in diaper liners without the use of any chemicals. This process allows the recycled plastic molecules to be repurposed for diverse applications. Superabsorbent materials, like sodium polyacrylate, are key components in various hygiene and medical products, including diapers, bandages, and dressing…

Reversible activation and catalytic transfer of ammonia via a compound of main group elements. Credit: Frank Breher, KIT Researchers at KIT have unveiled a novel system for the activation and catalytic transfer of ammonia – catalysis is based on main group elements. Ammonia (NH3), composed of nitrogen and hydrogen, stands as one of the most commonly manufactured chemicals globally. It plays a crucial role in creating numerous nitrogen-based compounds. If amines could be produced by the simple addition of ammonia to…

Pancreatic cancer, a leading cause of cancer deaths, often goes undiagnosed until it’s too late for effective treatment. A new method using nanoparticles delivers the drug Gemcitabine directly into tumors, improving efficacy and reducing side effects. This approach, demonstrated effective in mouse models, also overcomes the issue of tumor resistance to treatment. The interdisciplinary team is now focused on advancing this promising therapy into clinical practice.Researchers from the universities of Göttingen and Karlsruhe…