Fields of research

• Functionalisation of technical materials surfaces: 

• Piezo-, pyro- and ferroelectric materials for active switching of surface properties:
  The electric fields that appear on the surfaces either due to a change in temperature or mechanical stress are used to control charge-dependent interfacial interactions as well as biological and physical growth processes.

• Hydrothermal production of ceramic coatings: biocompatible ferroelectric and ferromagnetic coatings are grown on different substrates in high pressure hydrogenation systems for functional implant materials.

• Biomimetic implementation for surface functionalisation: e.g. hydrophilic-hydrophobic structures for the development of ice-repellent surfaces that exhibit anti-adhesive behaviour towards flowing media and prevent the adhesion of ice layers.

• Use of biological structures for surface functionalisation:
  Using sol-gel technology, biological agents and organic components can be incorporated into coatings. In this way, biocidal coatings are produced and mechanical coating properties are optimised.

• Determination of coating properties:
  • Contact angle/surface energy,
  • Adhesion properties of surface coatings,
  • Mechanical load capacity of coatings,
  • Ice-repellent properties
  • Achievable supercooling of sessile droplets,
  • Adhesion forces/ stress of adhering ice volumes
• Corrosion investigations:
  • Composition of corrosion products
  • Desing and evaluation of corrosion protection measures
  • Electrochemical measurements, especially electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS)