In nature, 92 chemical elements occur. By the Bronze Age at the latest, humans had begun to combine these elements artificially in order to create new materials with a wide range of properties. And there is still an overwhelming number of new materials with unknown characteristics waiting to be discovered. Recently, in addition to the established material groups of metals, ceramics and organic polymers, it has become possible to produce so-called hybrid materials. They combine features of the traditional classes of materials, blur the boundaries between them, and possess astonishing properties. As if in a science-fiction film, it is now possible to create transparent metals or opaque air.

Prof. Dr Rainer Adelung has held the Chair of Functional Nanomaterials at the Institute of Materials Science at Kiel University since 2010, where he conducts both basic research and applied research for industry. His work includes, among other fields, medical technology, sensor systems and nanoelectronics. As early as 2023, Prof. Adelung was awarded the prize of the German Materials Society for his groundbreaking research. In January 2025 he received the City of Kiel’s Innovation Award.

In his lecture, “The Magic of Modern Materials”, Prof. Adelung takes the audience on a journey through the world of these exotic materials and presents a wide variety of examples, such as “black air that can carry water” (aerographite) or cotton-soft porcelain that withstands temperatures of over 1000 °C without damage. He explains how these materials are used for novel batteries and for 3D printing.