Jan Torgersen (left) is conducting research at the Chair of Materials Science at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) to determine how these structures can be improved. (Photo: Susanne Höcht / TUM)

TUM researcher and e-conversion expert Prof. Jan Torgersen receives an ERC Proof of Concept Grant. Through this grant, the European Research Council supports innovations based on research findings. The BLADE (Bulk material Low-pressure Atomic-scale Deposition Engine) project focuses on nanocoatings which play an important role in everyday life: with the right coating, pharmaceuticals can be absorbed more effectively, battery lifecycles can be extended, and materials can be better protected against corrosion under extreme conditions such as in aerospace and maritime applications. As part of the BLADE project (Bulk Material Low-pressure Atomic-scale Deposition Engine), Prof. Torgersen and his students Sven Marx and Nishant Mistry are researching novel technologies for the production of nanocoatings at the  TUM School of Engineering and Design. Building on an earlier ERC-funded project on fuel cells, the team aims to further develop atomic layer deposition (ALD) for industrial applications. This technique enables extremely precise and uniform coatings, even on complex porous structures, but has so far been considered too slow and costly for industrial use. With a new low-pressure process, BLADE seeks to overcome these limitations and expand the application of the technology, for example in the energy, battery, and manufacturing sectors.

To date, researchers at TUM have secured a total of 270 of these highly competitive ERC grants. They are awarded annually in various categories. ERC Proof of Concept grants are given to researchers who want to investigate whether their ERC research projects can lead to commercially viable innovations.

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