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Research data management as central aspect within the collaborative research centres
Research data is a central output of science. They expand the scientific knowledge and are the basis for future research projects. The documentation of research data should follow subject-specific standards. The long-term archiving of research data is important for the quality assurance of any scientific work, but is also a fundamental prerequisite to allow the reusability of research results.
Researcher from the INP Greifswald enrolled a BMBF funded project with the title Quality assurance and networking of research data in plasma technology - QPTDat. This project aims to develop and test processes and methods for a quality assured and interdisciplinary reuse of research data from plasma technology.
QPTDat cooperation
A collaboration between INP and the CRC 1316 started in 2018 and now the Plasma Science Hub, and also the SFB-TR 87 join the activities on research data management. A workshop organized by INP Greifswald in January 2020 was the starting point for further active implementations in the field of research data management in the plasma community in the CRCs as well as in the Research Department.
First measures at EP2
As a first measure, an initiative at the research group EP2 at RUB results in an improved data storage on the local server of the institute. The storage volume has a regular backup and granting access to the complete group or to individual persons is possible. Beside measurement data, all further analysis steps are documented including meta data from all process steps. The members of the research group used a file name scheme, so that files can be found easily by other researchers.
Research data repository
Finally, published research data can be stored and published for the open public on the repository at
The idea of such a repository is the full documentation of measurement conditions (measurement data in a readable file format including meta data). First research groups from the CRCs have access to this repository and upload research data of published papers.
The concept of the repository is based on a multi-level system for publishing records. Users can put data online for review, which are then published by group moderators. The standards for publishing records must be defined by the group. In addition, meta data standards are currently being developed within the CRCs and together with INP Greifswald, so that data entry will be clearer and more uniform in future.
NFDI4Phys
Recently, the Plasma Science Hub has started to join the collaboration of different scientific institutions within the so-called
NFDI4Phys consortium. It aims to create structures and tools to simplify and unify the exchange of (mainly) numerical factual data in all areas of physics, with related disciplines and with the industry. The consortium is applying to the DFG for funding within the National Research Data Infrastructure (NFDI) project.
Within the framework of the NFDI4Phys consortium, the CRCs developing meta data standards for research questions in plasma science. Further goals are to contribute to the definition of basic and interdisciplinary standards and to develop methods to make research data from different sources generally accessible and interpretable.
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Zanders et al. generate an unusual cobalt compound
A research team from Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB) and Carleton University in Ottawa has developed a novel, highly versatile cobalt compound. The molecules of the compound are stable, extremely compact and have a low molecular weight so that they can be evaporated for the production of thin films. Accordingly, they are of interest for applications such as battery or accumulator production. Because of their special geometry, the compound also has a very unusual spin configuration of ½. A cobalt compound like that was last described in 1972. The team published their report in the journal Angewandte Chemie International Edition from 5 May 2020.
The geometry makes the difference
“The few known cobalt(IV) compounds exhibit high thermal instability and are very sensitive towards air and moisture exposure. This impedes their implementation as model systems for broad reactivity studies or as precursors in material synthesis,” explains lead author David Zanders from the Inorganic Materials Chemistry research group in Bochum, headed by Professor Anjana Devi. In his ongoing binational PhD project, which has been agreed upon by Ruhr University and Carleton University by a Cotutelle agreement, David Zanders and his Canadian colleagues Professor Seán Barry and Goran Bačić discovered a cobalt(IV) compound that does not only possess the aforementioned properties but also exhibits an unusually high stability.
Based on theoretical studies, the researchers demonstrated that a nearly orthogonal embedding of the central cobalt atom in a tetrahedrally arranged environment of connected atoms – so-called ligands – is the key to stabilising the compound. This specific geometric arrangement within the molecules of the new compound also enforces the unusual electron spin of the central cobalt atom. “Under these extraordinary circumstances, the spin can only be ½,” points out David Zanders. A cobalt compound with this spin state and similar geometry has not been described for almost 50 years.
Following a series of experiments, the team also showed that the compound has a high volatility and can be evaporated at temperatures of up to 200 degrees Celsius with virtually no decomposition, which is unusual for cobalt(IV).
Promising candidate for ultra-thin layers
Individual molecules of the compound dock onto surfaces in a controllable manner after evaporation. “Thus, the most fundamental requirement of a potential precursor for atomic layer deposition has been fulfilled,” asserts Seán Barry. “This technique has increasingly gained in importance in industrial material and device manufacturing, and our cobalt(IV) compound is the first of its kind that is fit for this purpose.” “Our discovery is even more exciting as the high-valent oxides and sulfides of cobalt are considered to have great potential for modern battery systems or microelectronics,” adds Anjana Devi. Following frequent charging and discharging, electrodes in rechargeable batteries become more and more unstable, which is why researchers are looking for more stable and, consequently, more durable materials for them. At the same time, they also focus on using new manufacturing techniques.
“This binational collaboration, which was initiated by David Zanders, has pooled the creativity and complementary expertise of chemical engineers from Bochum and Ottawa. All this has produced unexpected results and was certainly the key to success,” concludes Anjana Devi.
written by Meike Drießen, RUB
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Finnish university awards Anjana Devi an honorary doctorate
The chemist is a specialist for ultra-thin layers, some of which consist of only a single layer of atoms. The development and application of new chemical precursors, so-called precursors, for the production of ultra-thin layers, some of which consist of only one atomic layer, is the speciality of Prof. Dr. Anjana Devi, head of the Chemistry of Inorganic Materials group at the RUB. Such layers are used, for example, for the production of solar cells, sensors, displays or components for micro- and optoelectronics. For her work in this field, Anjana Devi was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Finnish Aalto University. The cooperation is related to framework of the SFB-TR 87.
The key technologies Devis Team works with are Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) and Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD). In both cases, the aim is to deposit very thin layers of a material, for example metals or semiconductor materials, on a substrate and to investigate the influence of newly developed precursors. "Anjana Devi has helped to bring the ALD and CVD communities together by organizing major international conferences and leading EU projects in this field," says the Aalto University's rationale. Since 2014, the Bochum team has had a close exchange with the Finnish university, including joint supervision of doctoral students.
adapted from RUB webpage, written by Meike Drießen
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Two PhD students profit from research stay at Hamaguchi Lab, Center for Atomic and Molecular Technologies, Osaka University, Osaka
From October to December 2019, I was able to join the lab of Prof. Satoshi Hamaguchi at the Center for Atomic and Molecular Technologies in Osaka, Japan.
My field of research is applied microbiology and my focus is on biocatalytic reactions with non-thermal plasmas.
Using numerical simulations, I studied the propagation of plasma-induced reactive species in liquids to gain an insight on the depth of penetration and concentration of these species. This knowledge will help to understand the interaction between plasmas and enzymes that are studied in project B8 of the CRC 1316, specifically to protect the enzymes from inactivation and to drive biocatalysis.
The research stay in Japan was very helpful to deepen my knowledge for my main research question.
Abdulkadir Yayci, project B8 of the CRC 1316
I have visited Hamaguchi Laboratories at Osaka University in Japan for 3 months. The lab exchange was funded partially by the CRC-1316 and the JSPS core-to-core program. The group of Prof. Satoshi Hamaguchi developed a reaction-diffusion-convection simulation for the generation and transport of chemical species in water, introduced by atmospheric-pressure plasma. During my stay, I worked on a multiphase fluid model. The typical flow field of a turbulent atmospheric-pressure plasma jet in direct vicinity of a liquid was modelled by solving a k-epsilon turbulence model. A Volume-of-Fluid (VOF) method was applied for the coupled flow of gaseous and liquid phase. The simulations agree very well with experimental results in the literature. The results from the fluid flow simulations were integrated into the reaction-diffusion-convection equations to evaluate the influence of different flow regimes on the generation and transport of chemical species in the liquid.
At Bochum University, I am working as a PhD student within project B5 of the CRC 1316: 2D-plasma-liquid-solid interfaces – plasma electrolytic oxidation. The generated results can be useful for this project in regards of chemical species generation inside of liquids. In addition, the fluid flow model is interesting for other groups working with atmospheric-pressure plasmas (e.g. project B2: Self-organization of sub-µm surface structures stimulated by microplasma generated reactive species and short-pulsed laser irradiation).
Summarizing I can say, that I had a very pleasant stay in Osaka, that I personally enjoyed a lot. The cooperation with the Hamaguchi Laboratories were very fruitful and everyone was very kind during my stay.
Patrick Hermanns, project B5 of the CRC 1316
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Plasma workshop at Bo.Ing 2020
The SFB-TR 87 and CRC 1316 joined the workshop program of the Bo.Ing 2020. At the Bochum engineering forum "BO.Ing", pupils are given an insight into the engineering sciences in workshops, laboratory tours and discussion groups. The event is organised by the zdi network IST.Bochum.NRW and is implemented in cooperation with universities from Bochum and the surrounding area.
With plasma workshop, sixteen pupils in two different workshop learned the basic ideas about plasma and its applcation. In hands-on activities, the girls and boys were able to perform their own experiments.
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Plasma theory day 2020
Organized under the umbrella of the RAPP Center and Research Department Plasma, we are happy to announce the second Plasma Theory Day at RUB, to take plase from March 16 to March 17, 2020. The program is now online here.
It is meant to further intensify the scientific discussion in the area of plasma- and plasma-astrophysics in the UAR research landscape. Please forward this message to everybody interested. I would appreciate if those who intend to come write an email to me, as I need an estimate concerning the size of the lecture hall. Right now we plan to be in NB7/67, but I can reserve a larger room if necessary.
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Dr. habil. Julian Schulze GEC Executive Committee Chair 2020
PI Dr. habil. Julian Schulze has been elected as GEC Executive Committee Chair with the tenure beginning 10/2020. The Gaseous Electronics Conference (GEC) is a prestigous plasma science meeting of the APS, which is organized annually usually in the US.
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7th International Plasma Science & Interfaces Workshop
On November 2 & 3, 2020, the 7th International Plasma Science & Interfaces Workshop takes place at the event centre of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum. The event is organized by Hugo de Haan (programme, Vision Dynamics), Guus Peemen (chair, TuE), and Achim von Keudell (host and chair, RUB).
Key topics and themes:
- Plasma medicine, medical and healthcare
- Plasma Surface modification & thin films
- Atmospheric pressure plasma @ Micro/Nano scale
- Atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ)
- Nanoparticles generation and pariclesurface treatment
- Surface diagnostics, energetics, analytics and –metrology
- Plasma parameterization, diagnostics, simulation
- Plasma for Emission Abatement & CO2
- Plasma parameterization, diagnostics, simulation
The workshop will be a PhD (student) expert-level workshop focused on the achievements, challenges and opportunities for the scientific- and entrepreneurial community working in the field.
- conference website: www.visiondynamics.nl
- Please contact josefien.vdlaar(at)visiondynamics.nl for more information!
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Prof. Dr. Julia Bandow accepted the offer for the chair of applied microbiology at RUB
Prof. Dr. Julia Bandow, Ruhr University Bochum, declined a call to the Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf for the W3 Professorship for Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Biology, a call to the Westphalian Wilhelms University in Münster for the W3 Professorship for Microbiology and a call from the Technical University of Darmstadt for the W3 professorship for microbiology. Instead she accepted the offer of the Ruhr University Bochum for the W3 professorship for applied microbiology.
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Prof. Uwe Czarnetzki awarded International Fellow of the Japan Society of Applied Physics
Prof. Uwe Czarnetzki from project A1/A2 of the CRC 1316 was awarded international fellow of the Japan Society of Applied Physics. The award ceremony will be held September 18th, 2019 during the Japan Society of Applied Physics autumn meeting. During the ceremony, the honored fellows are invited to present their scientific contribution. The status of international fellows of the Japan Society of Applied Physics is an honor awarded to scientists who support the progress of the Japan Society of Applied Physics in recognition of their achievements. Congratulations!
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PLASNOW (Plasma generated Nitric Oxide in Wound healing)
The DFG granted research project PLASNOW (Plasma generated Nitric Oxide in Wound healing) is an interdisciplinary collaboration within the research field of plasma medicine. The project was approved in November 2019 for 36 months. It will start with the start it will only start with the start of contract of the PhD student which is still in process at the moment.
Two groups from electrical engineering (AEPT, Prof. Dr. P. Awakowicz) and plasma physics (Experimental physics II, Dr. V. Schulz-von der Gathen) are involved. It is a successor and continuation of projects that were beforehand bundled in the cooperation “Plasma2Cell“. In this cooperation, other groups participate e.g. from chemistry, medicine, and biology at the Ruhr-University, the Heinrich-Heine-University in Düsseldorf and the DLR in Cologne.