Our research experts
Martin Köhne
E-mobility – carbon replaces copper
“An e-vehicle contains about 80 kg of copper. If in the medium term the share of all electrically powered vehicles accounts for 30% of the yearly global automobile production, there would be an increase of 10 % in the demand for copper. To enable the transformation to e-mobility, copper must be replaced by an innovative, resource-saving, electrical conductor material. Conductor materials based on carbon possess this disruptive potential.”
My first research topic at Bosch involved injection molding of silicone resins containing ceramic fillers. These resins could be converted into ceramic using a thermolysis process. Then I focused on thermoelectrics. Motivation was to convert the waste heat of a combustion engine directly into electrical energy. My current work aims at improving the property profiles of carbon nanotubes or graphene based conductors to that level they are able to replace copper in electrical powertrains.
Curriculum vitae
Robert Bosch GmbH
2001Scientific employee, project manager
Ciba-Geigy AG (meanwhile a business unit of the Huntsman Corporation)
1995Business unit casting resins: Process and product development
Karlsruher Institute of Technologie (KIT)
1989Studies of Chemical Engineering
Selected publications
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M. Köhne et al. (2019)
Semi-Heusler/ Heusler Alloys Having Tailored Phase Separation- M. Köhne, T. Graf, H. Elmers, C. Felser
- Granted Patent EP 2580363 B1
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M. Köhne et al. (2019)
Elastocaloric device for heat exchange with intrinsic ability to reverse heat flow direction- M. Köhne, A. Burghardt, H. Wüst
- WO19137691 A1
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L. Rizzi et al. (2019)
Computationally efficient simulation method for conductivity modeling of 2D-based conductors- Rizzi, L., Zienert, A., Schuster, J., Köhne, M., & Schulz, S. E.
- Computational Materials Science, 161, 364-370
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M. Köhne (2018)
Thermoelectric generator indcluding a heat storage device for reducing peak temperature- Granted Patent FR 2993115 B1
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M. Köhne (2018)
Fluorination of graphene or carbon nanotube conductor yarns for electrical insulation as litz wire- Patent application WO 2018/177767 A1
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M. Köhne et al. (2018)
Electromagnetically excitable coil including graphene and/or CNT ribbon as conductor- Patent application WO2018233897A1
- M. Köhne, T. Finken, A. Neubauer, C. Schlensok
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M. Köhne et al. (2018)
Functional material to interrupt thermal runaway of an electrochemical energy storage by short circuiting- M. Köhne, C. Schelling, S. Noll
- Granted Patent DE102016223204B3
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M. Köhne et al. (2018)
Heating Device For Heating Interior Spaces, In Particular A Single Room Fire Place- P. Ferreira Goncalves, M. Preissner, T. Bosch, M. Nguyen, M. Köhne, O. Bachmann, P. Mielcarek, T. Schmid, G. Vincent
- Granted Patent EP 2955440 B1
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M. Köhne et al. (2017)
Graphene film and aluminum foil as composite conductor ribbon for high power electric solenoids- B. Stuke, M. Köhne, R. Giezendanner-Thoben
- Granted Patent EP 3084781 B1
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K. Bartholome et al. (2013)
hermoelectric Modules Based on Half-Heusler Materials Produced in Large Quantities- K. Bartholome, B. Balke, D. Zuckermann, M. Köhne, M. Müller, K. Tarantik, J. König
- Journal of Electronic Materials, Issue: 6, Volume: 43, Pages: 1775-1781
Interview
Martin Köhne
Project leader Disruptive conductor materials for e-mobility
Please tell us what fascinates you most about research.
I am fascinated by discovering novelties. Metaphorically speaking, I enter unknown territory like a discoverer and start to measure and to chart this blank area on the map. This implies for me to understand in principle my “new research territory” and to document it in form of reports, patent registrations and publications.
Martin Köhne
Project leader Disruptive conductor materials for e-mobility
What makes research done at Bosch so special?
What I regard as so special is the fact that research at Bosch has a clear objective to seed and foster the seeds for technology “Invented for life”.
Martin Köhne
Project leader Disruptive conductor materials for e-mobility
What research topics are you currently working on at Bosch?
My research is about disruptive electric conductor materials based on graphene or carbon nanotubes. Utilized in electrical powertrains, they possess in comparison to copper the potential to reduce the conductor mass to one quarter of its value and to improve significantly the efficiency thanks to their higher electrical conductivity.
Martin Köhne
Project leader Disruptive conductor materials for e-mobility
What are the biggest scientific challenges in your field of research?
A very challenging task is the increase of the electrical conductivity of conductors based on graphene or carbon nanotubes without deteriorating their textile performance.
Martin Köhne
Project leader Disruptive conductor materials for e-mobility
How do the results of your research become part of solutions "Invented for life"?
In medium term my conductor materials get part of electrical powertrains. Within the revolution of the e-mobility era, they are an important contribution to protect the environment and save the natural resources as a technology “Invented for life”. Powertrains based on these conductor materials will be lighter as well as more powerful and improve by the way the driving pleasure of e-mobility. :-)
