Anniversary at Saar University: 30 years of research for the future of materials!

Anniversary at Saar University: 30 years of research for the future of materials!

On June 18, 2025, Professor Frank Mücklich, who has held the chair for functional materials at Saar University for 30 years, will celebrate a remarkable anniversary. His extensive contributions to materials research and technology transfer will be recognized at a special event to be held on June 26 at 5 p.m. in the university auditorium. To mark this occasion, Professor Mücklich invites several well-known graduates and industry experts.

Among the speakers, Matthias Maurer, Professor Mücklich's first graduate, will be represented by a personal video message. Other high-profile guests include Professor Andrés Lasagni from the Technical University of Dresden, who will speak about laser interference technology, and Claus Daniel, who teaches at the University of Chicago and talks about energy innovations in the USA. Together with Dominik Britz, Professor Mücklich will present the recently founded startup “Surfunction” and address topics such as materials research and technology transfer.

Focus on circular economy and innovative technologies

A central theme of the anniversary event will be a panel discussion on the “Circular Economy”. This discussion aims to shed light on the design of products for repair and recycling, as well as innovative approaches to material recovery. This discussion will address the prominent role of technologies such as Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS), which represents a crucial technology in future recycling management.

A current initiative using LIBS focuses on efficient aluminum recycling, which requires precise separation of material fractions. LIBS offers automated and contactless analyzes for complex materials such as those found in electronics or end-of-life vehicles. This technology is capable of identifying over 20 different alloying elements in scrap, enabling faster and cost-effective processing. Fraunhofer ILT reports that…

LIBS also plays an essential role in the recycling of batteries, particularly lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. The goal here is to recover over 90% of critical raw materials by 2030. The ACROBAT project is developing solutions for recovering lithium, phosphorus and graphite from battery cells.

Integration of digital technologies for the future

The combination of LIBS with digital technologies, including AI and machine learning, opens up new perspectives for the recycling industry. These technologies are used to process data streams from multiple optical sensors in parallel, increasing sorting accuracy and speeding up processing. The digital product passport could help increase transparency in global supply chains and facilitate the full recovery of valuable materials from end-of-life vehicles and electronic waste.

The importance of such innovations will also be highlighted in an upcoming workshop entitled “Laser Spectroscopy and Photonic Technologies for Circular Economy.” This workshop aims to explore the role of photonic technologies in promoting sustainability and innovation. Participants will gain insights into precise material characterization, real-time monitoring and efficient resource management, making them key drivers of circular economy solutions. Laserlab Europe reports that…

The anniversary event at Saar University and the ongoing discussions about innovative technologies and their application in the circular economy impressively show how science and industry work together to find sustainable solutions to the challenges of our time. Media representatives and interested guests are cordially invited to take part in this important event.