The possibilities of utilizing our research on inorganic materials in the field of energy sector

Material research focused primarily on ceramic materials for extreme usage conditions (at high temperatures where high strength, corrosion resistance, abrasion resistance, electrical or thermal conductivity are required) based on carbides, nitrides, oxides, borides.

Applications in photovoltaics: ceramic substrates for heat dissipation (e.g., AlN, Si3N4), electrically conductive ceramics (e.g., TiN).

Wind turbines - ceramic bearings (Si3N4, SiC) with high abrasion resistance, good thermal conductivity, Si3N4 is an electrical insulator, with good chemical stability and corrosion resistance (wind turbines in seas are corroded by chlorides from seawater). Ceramic bearings have lower weight (50%) compared to metals.

Electric vehicles: substrates for the power unit (e.g., Si3N4 is an electrical insulator with good thermal conductivity, strength, fracture toughness, high dielectric strength (40 kV/mm for a 300 μm thick substrate). In Japan, Toyota and Nissan use Si3N4 substrates in electric vehicles.

Nuclear power plants - radiation shielding made of silicon carbide (SiC).

Electrically conductive ceramics based on SiC with the addition of graphene or carbon nanotubes. These very hard materials can be machined by electric discharge machining (EDM) and prepare ceramic components of complex shapes. For EDM, electrical conductivity of at least 1 S/m is required; we are able to prepare SiC composite with electrical conductivity of 20 S/m.

Ceramic insulators on electricity distribution towers - increase dielectric strength (about 15 years ago, we had cooperation on the development of electrical insulators).

Various sensors: piezoceramic materials

Nuclear power plants - cooling of reactors with fluoride melts.