Martin Köhne

Please tell us what fascinates you most about research.
I am fascinated by discovering novelties. Metaphorically speaking, I enter unknown territory and start to measure and to chart this blank area on the map. This implies for my work to understand in principle my “new research territory” and to document it in form of reports, patent registrations and publications.

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”.

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.

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.

How do the results of your research become part of solutions “Invented for life”?
In medium term these conductor materials will 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.