OpenFieldThe Centre for Efficient High-Temperature Processes and Materials Conversion (ZeHS) at TU Bergakademie Freiberg is Germany’s premier national research institute for zero-emission metallurgy, high-temperature synthesis, refractory ceramics, and mineral recycling.
Constructed as an interdisciplinary mega-laboratory, ZeHS unites mineralogy, chemical thermodynamics, mechanical engineering, and metallurgical chemistry. It hosts unique pilot-scale melting furnaces, flash calcination units, and advanced synchrotron X-ray diffraction facilities to eliminate carbon emissions from heavy industry.
Doctoral candidates and graduate students enroll through TU Bergakademie Freiberg’s Faculty of Materials Science and Technology. Admissions require a Master of Science in Materials Science, Metallurgy, Chemistry, or Mechanical Engineering.
World-leading curriculum in hydrogen-based direct iron reduction, electric arc furnace thermodynamics, secondary slag valorization, and non-ferrous metal recycling.
Fully funded 3-year doctoral research position focused on hydrogen plasma smelting, ceramic reactor linings, and molten salt electrochemical reduction.
Specialized program investigating ultra-high temperature ceramics, thermal shock resistance, carbon-bonded refractories, and composite insulation materials.
Multidisciplinary engineering program training specialists to reclaim lithium, cobalt, rare earth elements, and industrial byproducts from discarded batteries and e-waste.
Competitive annual financial prize and research grant awarded to outstanding master students conducting thesis work on fossil-free chemical processing.
Advanced computational degree modeling phase diagrams (CALPHAD), ab initio molecular dynamics, finite element thermal stress, and machine learning alloy design.
Two-year postdoctoral fellowship conducting in situ X-ray computed tomography and high-temperature phase transition diagnostics of metallic melts.
Director of ZeHS and Professor of Ceramics and Refractories · Institute of Ceramic, Glass and Construction Materials / ZeHS
Prof. Dr. Christos G. Aneziris is founding director of ZeHS and global authority on refractory ceramics, innovating thermal shock-resistant materials for clean metallurgical casting and hydrogen gas filters.
View research profile ↗Professor of Ferrous Metallurgy and Steelmaking · Institute of Iron and Steel Technology / ZeHS
Prof. Dr. Olena Volkova leads research on the thermodynamic modeling of molten steel, clean steel cleanliness control, and kinetics of hydrogen direct reduction of iron ores.
View research profile ↗Professor of Materials Science and Structural Diagnostics · Institute of Materials Science / ZeHS
Prof. Dr. David Rafaja investigates crystallographic defects, microstructure-property correlations, and high-temperature phase stability of advanced structural alloys using high-resolution synchrotron radiation.
View research profile ↗Professor of Chemical Technology and Resource Chemistry · Institute of Chemical Technology / ZeHS
Prof. Dr. Martin Bertau focuses on sustainable hydrometallurgy, developing closed-loop extraction processes for high-purity lithium from ores and electronic scrap recycling.
View research profile ↗University profile compiled from official ZeHS | TU Bergakademie Freiberg academic bulletins and institutional directories reviewed on 2026-10-16. OpenField is an independent research guide.