DESY operates one of the brightest storage ring X-ray radiation sources in the world: PETRA III offers researchers excellent experimental opportunities with X-rays of particularly high brilliance. This benefits scientists and researchers from industry, who can use the highly focused light to gain deep insights into materials and processes on the nanoscale, thus enabling the design of sustainable materials and innovative environmentally friendly manufacturing methods.

As an example, the world's strongest biofiber was developed in the bright X-ray light of PETRA III. In this process, cellulose nano-fibrils which can be obtained from wood or plant residues are specifically aligned and cross-linked by hydrodynamic focusing. The process could be observed in situ in the X-ray beam and optimized in such a way that a hierarchically structured material could be produced and the excellent mechanical properties of the nanofibrils could be transferred to the fiber. Furthermore, the use of sustainable materials for solar cell applications and for UV protection applications is being researched in further projects at DESY.

This contribution aims to give an overview of ongoing research activities on sustainable materials, the analytical X-ray methods applied and the access possibilities for researchers and industrial users to the campus and the facilities of DESY.