Laser fusion for a sustainable future: SCHOTT offers solutions for groundbreaking projects

Amid rising prices and supply imbalances, sustainable utilities have become an increasingly important global issue. Out of its R&D lab in Duryea, Pennsylvania, SCHOTT is addressing this need by developing advanced laser glass—a core component in replicating the sun’s nuclear fusion here on Earth to provide affordable, safe, clean, and carbon-free energy.

In addition to providing laser glass for the National Ignition Facility (NIF) at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories (LLNL), the company is also advancing the development of laser glasses for new systems like the one currently being designed at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE) at the University of Rochester. This will likely be the next institution to build a large laser system, which will use SCHOTT glass to accelerate fusion energy innovations in line with the White House’s vision for commercial fusion energy.

“This conference brings together some of the leading minds across government and industry to address societal challenges, and SCHOTT has the experience and reach across a range of sectors to set new industry standards,” Dr. Müller said. “Specialty glass has the power to support new energy solutions that are more sustainable, and we have just scratched the surface of what is possible,” he added.  

SCHOTT has also taken on ambitious projects like developing a technology to heat energy-intensive tanks without using fossil fuels and using its glass-ceramic powder in solid-state ion conductors, a next generation of high-performance batteries that will extend the range of electric cars by 30% and reduce charging time by half.

Developing new applications is how this leading specialty glass company shares its passion for glass and contributes to science and technology. The experts at SCHOTT have a long history of creating innovative products like ultra-thin flexible glass, glass-ceramics, pharmaceutical glass solutions, and optical glass.

SCHOTT is very pleased to bring the international community together to celebrate the contributions of glass to society. The National Day of Glass is among three International Year of Glass events SCHOTT is sponsoring, including the UN IYOG Opening Ceremony in Geneva, Switzerland, which took place in February and the 26th International Congress on Glass in Berlin, Germany from July 3-8.

Pioneering – responsibly – together

These attributes characterize SCHOTT as a manufacturer of high-tech materials based on specialty glass. Founder Otto Schott is considered its inventor and became the pioneer of an entire industry. Always opening up new markets and applications with a pioneering spirit and passion – this is what has driven the #glasslovers at SCHOTT for more than 130 years. Represented in 34 countries, the company is a highly skilled partner for high-tech industries: Healthcare, Home Appliances & Living, Consumer Electronics, Semiconductors & Datacom, Optics, Industry & Energy, Automotive, Astronomy, and Aerospace. In the fiscal year 2021, its 17,300 employees generated sales of 2.5 billion euros (US$ 3.0 billion). SCHOTT AG is owned by the Carl Zeiss Foundation, one of the oldest foundations in Germany. It uses the Group's dividends to promote science. As a foundation company, SCHOTT has anchored responsibility for employees, society and the environment deeply in its DNA. The goal is to become a climate-neutral company by 2030.