Scientific Events

The recovery of valuable refractory metals from industrial slags is a pressing challenge. This talk introduces a strategy based on Engineered Artificial Minerals, which selectively sequester target elements during smelting and recrystallization. Using DFT calculations and flame-spray pyrolysis, this approach enables the design of effective additives and links atomic-scale insights to industrial processes, while also addressing challenges in accurately predicting the behavior of transition metal oxides. [more]

This talk presents two EU-funded projects that connect sustainability, safety, and circular economy: the CLASCO project, which uses Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) principles and AI-enhanced manufacturing to improve environmental and social impact, and the Green Loops project, which applies AI-supported recycling to recover materials from complex waste. Together, they showcase how digital innovation and sustainability strategies can drive the development of safe, circular technologies. [more]

Metals are essential for climate and digital technologies, making resource-efficient use and high-quality recycling across their entire lifecycle crucial. This lecture explores the role of recycling in a true circular economy, highlighting the need for clear system definitions, realistic expectations, and coordinated processes to recover valuable materials sustainably and effectively. [more]

This lecture explores the design of luminescent materials by examining the balance between radiative and non-radiative decay processes, focusing on rare-earth and transition-metal-based LED phosphors as well as lanthanoid-based luminescent thermometers. It highlights both sustainability challenges and fundamental limits in temperature sensing, offering insights into improving material efficiency through deeper understanding of non-radiative transitions. [more]

Lanthanides (Ln) - the f-elements from Ce to Lu, along with La - are indispensable for modern life. These elements are at the heart of advancements in green energy technologies, energy-efficient lighting, and various industrial and medical applications. [more]