Processing and Synthesis

At the heart of every innovation in materials science lies a unique process of synthesis. This symposium is an ode to these techniques and the masterminds behind them. Delve into the mechanics of nucleation, the art of diffusion, the science of phase transitions, and much more. Whether you're interested in the creation of nanoscale marvels or the synthesis of complex thin films, this event promises a deep exploration of the techniques, challenges, and future prospects of material synthesis.

As space missions extend further and longer - from low earth orbit to lunar and deep space environments - the demands on materials continue to evolve. This symposium focuses on the processing and synthesis of materials for space and in space environments. Especially for in-space processing, conventional approaches must be adapted to space-specific constraints and the extreme environmental conditions of vacuum, radiation, and microgravity.
The symposium addresses syntheses and processing routes that enable innovative materials and functionalities, including tailored microstructures, enhanced radiation resistance, thermal stability, and mechanical durability. Topics span the entire space ecosystem - materials for launchers, satellite structures, in-space propulsion, space probes, re-entry systems, and space habitats. A focused topic are materials under space conditions - such as microgravity, vacuum, radiation, atomic oxygen, and extreme temperatures - and their effects on phase formation, diffusion, nucleation, solidification, and surface degradation, as well as the scientific insights gained from experiments on orbital platforms like the ISS.
Lightweight materials, including advanced alloys, composites, and hybrid systems, are of particular relevance due to mass limitations in launch and orbital infrastructure. Likewise, important are emerging strategies for a design-for-demise to meet the challenges of orbital debris, and in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) to pave the way for sustainable space missions.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Advanced synthesis methods (e.g. coating technology, additive manufacturing, SPS)
• Lightweight structural materials for space (metals, alloys, ceramics, polymers, composites)
• Functional materials for space (e.g. thermal management, radiation shielding, corrosion protection)
• Materials and systems for space power generation and storage (e.g. thermoelectrics, PV, batteries)
• Performance in extreme space environments (e.g. high temperature, cryo, plasma, radiation, vacuum)
• Materials for/from in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) (e.g. concentrated solar syntheses, sintering and in-situ diagnostics)
• Process–structure–property relationships under space-relevant conditions
• Space materials and systems enabling circularity and mission sustainability

This symposium aims to foster exchange materials and processing experts, computational researchers and space engineers to explore how advanced materials shape the future of space exploration.

The symposium, submitted under the overarching topic area "P: Processing and Synthesis," spans a wide range of subjects, from manufacturability-oriented topology optimization to process-specific path planning, in situ processes such as heat treatment, and the development of hybrid machine concepts for additive-subtractive manufacturing, as well as material and mechanical characterization. A particular focus is placed on integrating simulation-based methods for modeling, controlling, and designing the additive manufacturing process and simulation-assisted planning of the subsequent machining processes. In addition, the evolution of the microstructure is analyzed both numerically and experimentally, during solidification and in the solid state, driven by the repeated heat input typical of the layer-wise build-up process. The insights gained serve as a basis for developing tailored material concepts, designing optimized part geometries, and deriving suitable process parameters for additive manufacturing. The session brings together various disciplines, including materials science, manufacturing engineering, control systems, and mechanics, enabling a holistic, interdisciplinary perspective on the additive manufacturing process. The symposium is directed at a broad audience from academia, including the DFG-funded research group FOR 5620, as well as industry stakeholders interested in the additive manufacturing of high-performance metallic components.

Most metals used for technical purposes are quickly covered by a thin oxide layer, even in inert gases or in a high vacuum. These oxide layers are detrimental in many technical processes. For example, they prevent wetting in soldering processes or require high degrees of deformation in roll cladding to break up the oxide layers. However, if the technical processes are relocated to an environment with an oxygen partial pressure that corresponds to that of the extremely high vacuum (pO2 <10E-12 mbar), conditions are created at the surface that enable new material properties in many processes by forming true metallic bonds. Oxygen-free production can thus lead to processes that combine improved material properties with economic and ecological advantages and also make completely new processes possible.

This symposium will focus on the interplay between production processes in oxygen-free environments and the resulting material properties. All steps along the process chain from an oxide-covered semi-finished product to its deoxidation and the finished component are taken into account. Thus, topics of interest include but are not limited to:

• Advanced techniques for removal of oxide layers
• Characterization of surface properties (from surface chemistry to wetting behavior and tribological properties)
• Development of coating processes in oxygen-free environments
• Joining techniques and additive manufacturing
• Modeling of transport processes at surfaces and interfaces
• Modeling of material behavior
• Development of new oxygen-free production processes

It should be noted that only contributions that meet the above definition of an oxygen-free environment will be considered.

Additive Manufacturing (AM), often referred to as 3D printing, has evolved from its origins as a rapid prototyping tool to a groundbreaking technology with transformative potential in various industries. While the production of innovative component geometries is very attractive to designers, additive manufacturing places strong challenges towards the materials science and engineering community. With layer-by-layer build-up, both, the component and the material, are generated at the same time in additive manufacturing. The current trend of making high quality parts by additive manufacturing therefore requires an in-depth understanding of the interaction between the AM process, its relevant processing parameters and the resulting microstructure which finally determines the properties of the component. This includes exploring as well the latest developments in AM for functional materials. The key focus topics of the symposium are including but not limited to:

• The understanding of the role of materials in these different processes, particularly with regards to microstructure, residual stresses, presence, importance and elimination of defects.
• Activities that are still necessary in order to push the technology into higher Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) for its industrialization.
• Improvements covering the whole AM value chain. This includes the development of standards for quality assessment and implementation of -processes for raw material and process monitoring, AM and alloy design, modelling of residual stresses, thermal treatments and the analysis of their impact on mechanical properties and dimensional stability, finishing processes, strategies for non-destructive testing, proved repeatability on part properties, specific procurement procedures, sustainability and recycling, among others.
• Explore the innovative methodologies for designing functional materials with tailored properties. Highlight groundbreaking functional materials designed to meet specific functional requirements, including advanced polymers, metals, ceramics, composites, and biomaterials, showcasing their unique properties and potential applications.

In the framework of this symposium, the current state of the art and future trends and all aspects covering the industrialization of AM will be discussed. This symposium also provides an exceptional opportunity for academics to engage in scholarly discussions, exchange research findings, and foster collaborations that will drive the materials science field forward.

The urgent need to combat climate change demands a rapid transition to carbon-neutral energy technologies. Solar energy, as the most abundant renewable resource, holds the key to a sustainable future. However, its intermittent nature requires efficient conversion into storable chemical fuels. This symposium will focus on the direct conversion of solar energy into sustainable fuels, or "solar fuels", by activating small molecules like CO2 and H2O. A central challenge in this field is the development of highly efficient, stable, and scalable photoactive materials and devices. Recent breakthroughs in metal halide perovskites and allied materials have positioned them as game-changers for solar fuel generation. Their exceptional optoelectronic properties such as tunable bandgaps, high absorption coefficients, and long charge-carrier diffusion lengths, make them ideal as light-harvesting components in photoelectrochemical (PEC) cells and photovoltaic (PV)-PEC tandem systems. This symposium will put a specific spotlight on the challenges and opportunities presented by these emerging materials, including lead-based and lead-free perovskites, perovskite-inspired materials, layered double hydroxides, and other novel inorganic-organic hybrids. Furthermore, this symposium aims to gather leading researchers to share recent progress, discuss cutting-edge strategies for creating renewable energy sources, and foster collaborations that will accelerate the development of the next generation of solar fuel technologies. We seek to create a dynamic forum that bridges materials science, chemistry, and engineering to address one of the most critical challenges of our time.

SESSION TOPICS (not limited TO)

• Novel synthesis of lead-based and lead-free perovskite materials
• Compositional engineering of perovskite-inspired materials for high stability
• Photoelectrochemical cells and PV-PEC tandem systems
• Solar-driven CO2 reduction into liquid fuels (e.g., methanol and ethanol)
• In-depth understanding of reaction mechanisms for solar fuels production
• Investigation on degradation pathways using operando and computational techniques
• Machine-learning driven discovery of new efficient and durable photo(electro) catalysts