ACCELL-NM

Motivation

The development of high-performance materials for future energy systems and high-tech applications requires a profound understanding of structure-property relationships across multiple length scales. Advanced materials and functional coatings offer significant potential for energy technologies, sensor systems, microelectronics, nuclear engineering, and surface applications. However, translating laboratory discoveries into scalable, reliable industrial solutions remains a major challenge.

ACCELL-NM addresses this gap by accelerating the development, optimization, and qualification of novel materials. The project shortens the path from material discovery to application-oriented demonstrators while integrating manufacturability, cost efficiency, and sustainability from the outset. The close coupling of material design, digital tools, process engineering, and advanced characterization forms the foundation of this holistic strategy.

Objectives and Approach 

ACCELL-NM, among other things, combines the complementary expertise of Fraunhofer IWS, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf and the other partners in materials research, advanced surface technologies, and materials characterisation.

Fraunhofer IWS plays a central role in developing scalable synthesis, coating, and structuring processes and in transferring novel nanomaterials into functional layer systems and components. Key activities include:

• Adapting and scaling production technologies
• Integrating materials into application-relevant process chains
• Validating performance under near-industrial conditions
• Establishing robust quality control from laboratory to pilot scale

A central innovation of ACCELL-NM is the development of a reusable and extendable Materials Acceleration Platform (MAP) that advances readiness level 2 (RL2) concepts toward application maturity. The MAP integrates:

• Data-driven materials design supported by machine learning
• High-throughput alloy fabrication via Laser Directed Energy Deposition (DED-LB)
• Ion irradiation and rapid screening methods
• Accelerated testing for irradiation and corrosion resistance

As a case study, the platform focuses on high-entropy-alloys (HEAs) for a lead-cooled fast reactor, addressing the demanding conditions of advanced nuclear systems. Digital integration within the Pyiron framework enables systematic data management, simulation-experiment coupling, and iterative optimization cycles. High-potential alloy candidates are selected through rapid screening and subsequently subjected to in-depth structural and functional characterization. These investigations provide mechanistic insight into irradiation and corrosion behavior and validate proxy testing methods for long-term material performance.

Innovation and Perspectives 

The innovation of ACCELL-NM lies in accelerating the innovation cycle for metals through the close integration of fundamental understanding, digital design tools, process development, and application validation. By combining high-resolution analytical capabilities with industrially scalable manufacturing technologies, the project establishes a structured and transferable pathway from research to production.

The processes developed at Fraunhofer IWS enable the reliable integration of advanced metals into durable functional components and high-performance coating systems for demanding industrial environments. Through the Materials Acceleration Platform, alloy discovery, qualification, and deployment are significantly faster than with conventional development routes.

In the long term, ACCELL-NM strengthens technological competitiveness in advanced materials engineering and promotes sustainable, resource-efficient solutions. By embedding data-driven methodologies and machine learning into materials development workflows, the project opens new perspectives for efficient, application-oriented materials engineering across sectors, including future nuclear energy systems and other extreme-environment technologies.