Promoting young talent: pupils immerse themselves in nanoworlds at the ZBT

The so-called The membrane electrode assembly (MEA ) is the electrochemical heart of a fuel or electrolysis cell. Nanomaterials are used primarily in the area of catalysts. The students got to know the process chain for manufacturing the MEA and carried it out practically themselves.

In wet chemistry, the students were able to weigh catalyst powder, pipette solvent and ionomer and disperse the whole thing in an ultrasonic bath to produce a dispersion. Catalyst layers were then sprayed in the coating laboratory. Finally, the self-built MEAs were tested in the electrolysis cell in the test bench laboratory. At each station and during all activities, the ZBT scientists explained the underlying physical and chemical principles.

The NanoSchoolLab offers day courses, project courses and teacher training on nanotechnology topics from the fields of physics, engineering and chemistry. The offer is aimed at courses in grades 8 to 13 at grammar schools, comprehensive schools, secondary schools and vocational colleges. Visiting the NanoSchoolLab is free of charge.

to the NanoSchoolLab of the University of Duisburg-Essen