Das Projekt "Synthese und Charakterisierung von Halogenoperowskiten AMX3 (M=Sn, Pb; X = Cl, Br, I) als Farbstoffe für die Solarzelle" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Freiburger Materialforschungszentrum durchgeführt. Im Mittelpunkt der chemisch-präparativen Arbeiten steht die Optimierung der chemischen und stöchiometrischen Zusammensetzung der Perowskite und ihrer Kristallinität. Die Anpassung der physikalischen Eigenschaften soll durch Variation der Kationen und des zentralen Metalls erfolgen. Die entstehenden neuen Phasen werden strukturell charakterisiert. Ein weiteres Thema ist die Suche nach einem Ersatz von PbI3 durch ungiftige Alternativen. In Kooperation mit den anderen Projektpartnern erfolgt die Kontrolle der Absorption für Single Junction und Tandem Solarzellen. Außerdem soll die Optimierung von organischen und anorganischen löchersensitiven bzw. elektronen-selektiven Elektrodenmaterialien für die PIN Struktur erfolgen. Als wichtigstes Referenzmaterial soll aus CH3NH3I und PbI2 in hoher Reinheit CH3NH3PbI3 hergestellt werden. Ein wichtiger Punkt ist dabei die Kristallinität, da die photoelektrischen Eigenschaften vermutlich stark davon abhängen. Entsprechend der sich schnell ändernden Literaturlage sollen auch weitere vielversprechende Verbindungen als Referenzmaterialien charakterisiert werden, z.B. CsSnI3. Die Stabilität der Perowskit-Striktur, d.h. Lage von Phasenübergängen und Art und Umfang der damit verbundenen Symmetriereduktion hängen von den Radienverhältnissen ab. Eine systematische Aufarbeitung der an der Uni Freiburg vorhandenen Daten zu den Systemen AMX3 (A = Rb, Cs, R4-nNHn, n=0-3; M = Sn, Pb, X = Cl, Br, I) hinsichtlich ihrer Eignung in Perowskitsolarzellen wird durchgeführt. Weiterhin werden eine Synthese und Tests anderer organischer Ammonium-Kationen (R4-nNHn, n = 0-3, R = Me, Et, ...) auch als Mischkristalle mit Alkali-Kationen durchgeführt.
Das Projekt "Zellkultur als Testsystem zur Pruefung der biologischen Wirkung, speziell der onkogenen Potenz, von Umweltnoxen der Aussenluft" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Universität Düsseldorf, Medizinisches Institut für Umwelthygiene durchgeführt. Untersuchungen ueber Art und Ausmass der Belastung des Menschen und seiner Umwelt durch Immissionen von Schadstoffen. Feststellung der Wirkung luftverunreinigender Stoffe auf Mensch, Tier und Pflanze unter spezieller Beruecksichtigung der Wirkung auf Gewebekulturen, Stoffwechselvorgaenge, Atmungsorgane und das Kreislaufsystem. Objektivierung der Wirkung geruchsintensiver Stoffe. Entwicklung biologischer Messverfahren. Untersuchung der Wirkung verschiedener Komponenten des atmosphaerischen Staubs, speziell Blei-Chlorid und Benzo(a)pyren, auf in vitro gezuechtete Saeugetierzellen durch Testung der Zellpermeabilitaet.
Das Projekt "Global change and biodiversity feedbacks as drivers of the carbon cycle in the plant soil system" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Universität Zürich, Geographisches Institut durchgeführt. Research aims - The aim of this project is to demonstrate whether increased biodiversity and net primary production lead to increased carbon storage in the ecosystem, especially in the largest carbon pool, the mineral soil, and thus reduces the release of greenhouse gases. Climate change (nitrogen deposition, summer droughts, vegetation fire) - We will analyse plant-soil feedbacks in laboratory experiments, using our newly build Multi Isotope labelling in Controlled Environment (MICE) facility, and in three of the field sites (tropical, temperate, boreal) using transplanted model mini-ecosystems. Global change includes many processes, and we focus on three processes, key to the terrestrial carbon cycle, i.e. increasing chronic atmospheric nitrogen deposition, widespread summer droughts, and more frequent wildfires, with yet unknown consequences for the carbon cycle. We will use the MICE facility to manipulate mini-ecosystems (plants and soil from the three field sites) and expose them to four climatic scenarios: todays equivalent climate (corresponding to the site), increased nitrogen deposition, drought and post-fire conditions (by pyrolising the plant biomass). The plant-soil system will be labelled with stable isotopes (13C, 15N) in order i) to investigate the changes in organic matter dynamics when climate changes are applied and ii) to produce highly labelled experimental material that could be traced in the field. We will transplant the manipulated mini-ecosystem, from the MICE facility to the three URPP GCB sites Siberia, Laegeren and Borneo (tropical, temperate, boreal). The mini-ecosystems will contain highly labelled material (13C and 15N in fresh biomass and charred biomass) in order to follow fluxes related to C losses from the soil (CO2 and organic matter dissolved in water), as well as processes involved in the stabilisation of soil C (microbial, physical and chemical mechanisms). Using a large number of replicates will allow us to follow the underlying processes of C stabilisation in soil and vegetation at a high spatial and temporal precision. Biodiversity experiment - We will use the MICE chambers to grow different species of trees and grasses labelled with 13C (and potentially 15N, 18O and 2H) under todays climatic conditions. Then we recombine the different species (1, 2, 4, 8 species) and transplant them to the temperate site at Laegeren. In the field we can follow the total carbon fluxes and the contributions from the isotopically labelled decomposing biomass, and the living biomass.
Das Projekt "Root-derived organic matter in the deep subsoil greater than 2 m depth - what are the consequences for terrestrial carbon cycling and paleoenvironmental records?" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Universität Zürich, Geographisches Institut durchgeführt. Roots are currently discussed to store considerable amounts of carbon in the subsoil. Although it is well known that roots can penetrate the subsoil and deep subsoil (greater than 2 m) several meters deep, it remains unclear, how much carbon they contribute, if they lead to net carbon sequestration in the long-term and under which conditions they lead to carbon accumulation. Rhizoliths and biopores are root-related features that frequently occur in soil and underlying soil parent material. Recent studies in unconsolidated sediments show that they enable investigating the long-term effects of root penetration even after the lifetime of the source plant and thus the assessment of sustainable impacts of roots on subsoil organic matter (OM). While other research groups deal with the subsoil less than 2 m, (eg German Research Foundation (DFG) Research Group SUBSOM the current project focuses on the deep subsoil (greater than 2 m), where a significant overprint of OM is expected. In fact, this part of the subsurface is usually not regarded by soil scientists, but of large interest for paleoenvironmental researchers as valid e.g. for loess-paleosol sequences. So far, the effect of roots on subsoil OM was only studied on a single site in SW Germany during a precursor project, DFG (WI2810/10). Based on that project, the current proposal aims at the investigation of the transferability of the results to other sedimentary settings and ecological contexts. At several sites along a NE-SW transect across Europe (from The Netherlands across Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary towards Serbia), unconsolidated material like dune and fluvial sands, as well as loess-paleosol sequences will be investigated with respect to OM quantity and quality as influenced by root penetration. Preliminary investigations of six potential sites in Germany, Hungary and Serbia showed that biopores and other root-related features can reach similar abundances in different settings. Nevertheless, consequences for OM sequestration and turnover may be different, depending not only on the respective source vegetation but also sedimentary properties. The target of the current project is to identify carbon losses or sequestration related to root penetration, which will be assessed by bulk organic and inorganic carbon contents as well as a variety of lipid biomarkers including alkanes, fatty acids, alcohols, glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers and suberin markers. The combination of these biomarkers enables the assessment of root-related overprint, if transects from root features to surrounding material free of them are investigated. The data will be fed into the VERHIB model for source apportionment of sedimentary and root-related OM. (abridged text)
Das Projekt "Influence of permafrost on chemical and physical weathering" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Universität Zürich, Geographisches Institut durchgeführt. With increasing temperatures, permafrost is continuously thawing. This will lead in future to different thermal and hydrological conditions in the soil and regolith in cold regions. Therefore, climate change is assumed to cause a marked change in weathering conditions in high Alpine areas. Long-term chemical weathering and physical erosion rates are interrelated processes. In order to better understand landscape response to climate change, it is important to quantify both processes. The planned investigations generally aim at the estimate of element denudation/weathering rates and short- and long-term erosion of high Swiss Alpine soils (Upper Engadine: Albula and Val Bever). Both types of sites will be considered: a) with and b) without permafrost. The main objectives include 1) the evaluation of chemical weathering mechanisms using tracers such as immobile elements and Sr-isotopes 2) the determination of soil erosion rates (long-term) using two different techniques: a) in situ produced cosmogenic 10Be in soil sections and b) the inventory of meteoric 10Be in soils. Short-term erosion rates will be estimated using 137Cs as tracer. 3) determination of organic matter stocks in soil and characterisation and 14C dating of labile and stable (resistant to a H2O2 treatment) organic matter fractions. 4) Mapping of present day permafrost distribution and monitoring of near-surface and ground surface temperatures is essential for the understanding and prediction of the weathering behaviour of high Alpine regions. An important and innovative aspect is that chemical weathering and particularly erosion rates will be characterised using a multi-method approach. A cross-check of all the methods used will allow an extended interpretation and mutual control of the results. Furthermore, novel or very recently developed methods (erosion rates determined by meteoric 10Be using a non-steady-state approach; spatial on-site detection and characterisation of permafrost using a highly novel 3-D geophysical approach, 14C dating of stable (H2O2-resistant) soil organic matter, etc.) will be applied for the first time in high Alpine regions. The expected new insights will lead to a better understanding of the processes of high mountain soils and are a further step towards improving climate-related modelling of fast warming scenarios and increasing system disequilibria.
Das Projekt "INQUA Project 1216 - RAISIN: Rates of soil forming processes obtained from soils and paleosols in well-defined settings" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Universität Zürich, Geographisches Institut durchgeführt. The project RAISIN represents a core project of the Focus Area Group PASTSOILS. One of the major goals of the Focus Area Group will be achieved through RAISIN: Rates of soil forming processes in different climates, obtained from soils and paleosols in settings where climatic conditions and duration of soil development are known, will be assessed and documented. Thus, the project will provide a solid base for future interpretation of paleosols in the frame of palaeo-environmental reconstructions. Numerous data on soil development with time, many of them based on soil chronosequence studies in various regions, have been published in the past decades. The main aim of the project is hence to bring together scientists working on rates of soil-forming processes in different regions of the world to share and discuss their results, review and compare published data and finally produce a document representing the current state of knowledge on soil formation rates in different climates. The outcome of the project will be published in a special issue of Quaternary International to make it available to the scientific public. Thus, a common standard for interpreting paleosols in soil-sediment successions in terms of duration and environmental conditions of soil development will be created. Moreover, gaps in our current knowledge will be identified in the process of reviewing existing data in the frame of the project. This will stimulate future research and possibly lead to collaborative projects aiming on closing the identified gaps step by step.
Das Projekt "Analysis and Spatial Modelling of Permafrost Distribution in Cold-Mountain Areas by Integration of Advanced Remote Sensing Technology" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Universität Zürich, Geographisches Institut durchgeführt. Glaciers and permafrost in cold mountain areas are especially sensitive with respect to changes in atmospheric temperature because of their proximity to melting conditions. The 20th century has seen striking changes in glacierized areas of mountain ranges and, hence, in the extension of glacial and periglacial mountain belts all over the world, causing a corresponding shift in geomorphodynamic processes. In the event of future accelerated warming, the cryosphere components of Alpine environments would most likely evolve at high rates beyond the limits of historical and holocene variability ranges. Such a development would necessarily lead to pronounced disequilibria in the water cycle, in mass wasting processes and sediment flux as well as in growth conditions of vegetation. By consequence, living conditions for humans and animals will likely be affected as well. Empirical knowledge would have to be replaced increasingly by improved process understanding and robust computer models for economic planning, hazard mitigation, landscape protection etc. Thereby, high priority has to be placed on application of modern know-how and technologies for preparing corresponding assessments in combination with improved knowledge about the evolution of glacier- and permafrost-related processes based on appropriate monitoring programmes. An energy balance model that calculates surface and ground temperatures from climatic data has recently been developed in the project area (Corvatsch, Upper Engadin) based on a 3-year time series from a microclimatological station. For the successful spatial application and further development of this one-dimensional model, accurate spatial data fields of key surface characteristics are needed. The development of process-based permafrost models is closely connected to the improvement of statistical models that will be applicable in areas where less information is available. For these models, accurate knowledge of vegetation abundance represents a sensitive independent indicator to be used in evaluation as well as a valuable parameter if included. The present project for the first time employs and explores airborne hyperspectral remote sensing as a source of quantitative spatial information for analysis and numerical modelling of permafrost distribution and evolution in an especially well documented test area of the Swiss Alps. The potential to accurately quantify snow-free albedo and sparse vegetation cover in rugged topography makes hyperspectral remote sensing a promising data source. Collaboration of the Physical Geography Division and Remote Sensing Laboratories (RSL) is expected to help in reducing the gap that commonly exists between development of new sensors and technology and their application in research. The application of established remote sensing techniques and, if necessary, their adaptation to high mountain environments, provides a measurable data-basis for this study. (abridged text)
Das Projekt "Bioelectrochemical systems for metal recovery (BIOELECTROMET)" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Stichting Wetsus Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology durchgeführt. Global primary metal resources are rapidly dwindling and the mining and metallurgical industries are increasingly turning to lower grade minerals for metal extraction, typically increasing costs. Innovative environmental metal extraction techniques are required to increase mining sustainability, increase revenues and lower its impact on the environment. In this project, bioelectrochemical technology is proposed as an entirely new method for metal processing with the aim to produce marketable metal-containing (intermediate) products with low environmental impact compared to state-of-the art technologies. In bioelectrochemical technology, microorganisms catalyse the reaction occurring on one or both electrodes of an electrolytic cell. Such cells are called Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs) when power is produced and Microbial Electrolysis Cells (MECs) when power is required to drive the desired reaction. Recently, it has been shown that Cu2+ is reduced to metallic copper on the cathode of a MFC coupled to the biological oxidation of organic matter and with resulting electricity generation. The proof-of-principle MFC almost completely recovered the Cu2+ in its metallic form (decrease in concentration from 1 g/L to less than 1 mg/L) and produced a maximum power density of 0.8 W/m2. Bioelectrochemical technology can be used for the base metals copper, nickel, iron, zinc, cobalt and lead, which are mined, processed and used in large quantities. These metals are ubiquitous in process- and waste streams from the mining and metallurgical industry and therefore application of bioelectrochemistry for these metals has a high impact. Compared to traditional techniques, the use of Bioelectrochemical technology allows high recovery efficiencies, increased metal selectivity and reduced use of energy with in some cases (e.g. copper reduction) electricity production.
Das Projekt "Erneuerbare Funktionsmaterialien - Ausbildung von Materialwissenschaftlern für eine nachhaltige Polymerindustrie (REFINE)" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Dublin City University durchgeführt. Die Kunststoffindustrie trägt etwa 23% zu den Gesamtverkaufszahlen der Chemischen Industrie in Europa bei, ist jedoch traditionell auf petrochemische Erzeugnisse für ihre Rohstoffe, Zusätze und Reaktionsmedien angewiesen. Im REFINE Projekt sollen nachhaltige Strategien zur Entwicklung von funktionellen Materialien für verschiedenste Polymer/Plastik-Anwendungen entwickelt werden. Im Netzwerk REFINE werden ausnahmslos grüne Rohmaterialien mit grünen Synthesewegen (Biotechnologie) und grünen Prozessen kombiniert. Vervollständigt wird dieser Ansatz durch kritische 'life cycle' Analysen und Endverbraucher Benchmarking, wobei gezielte relevante Anwendungen im industriellen Bereichen mit Polymeren für Coatings sowie mit Körperpflegeprodukten durchgeführt werden. Am Projekt beteiligt sind führende Experten aus den Polymer-, Materialwissenschafts- und Biotechnologiebereichen aus 6 akademischen Forschungseinrichtungen, 2 multinationalen Industrie End-Usern mit verschiedenen Anwendungsgebieten (Performance Polymere und Körperpflegeprodukten) und 1 SME. REFINE wird eine neue Generation von Materialforschern ausbilden, die sich der Auswirkung ihrer Arbeiten auf die Umwelt bewusst sind und die die dabei entwickelten Tools in ihren zukünftigen Arbeitsbereichen anwenden werden (nachhaltige Materialwissenschaftler). Diese einzigartige Kombination aus Wissenschaft, Industrieanwendungen und individuellem Training sowohl in lokalen Bereichen als auch im Netzwerk wird sich positiv auf die Arbeitsplatzsituation in der Bioplastik-Industrie auswirken. Vorhersagen zufolge wird es bis 2020 eine Zunahme von größer als 25% an verfügbaren Arbeitsplätzen in diesem Bereich geben. Die im REFINE Projekt entwickelte grüne Technologie kann direkt in die Industrie integriert werden, was wiederum zu einer grüneren und nachhaltigeren Gesellschaft führen wird.
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