Functionalised Materials

Coated carbon nanotubes

Functional materials (and multifunctional materials in particular) are an essential precondition for progress in many areas of technology. We develop polymers and organic/inorganic hybrid materials for applications that make an important contribution toward conserving increasingly scarce resources and thus toward the protection of the environment.

The desired properties are achieved by adding functionality to these materials by means of a corresponding process (e.g. orientation of nanoscale structural elements, film formation, possibly chemical or thermal aftertreatment).

In this topic area, we develop membranes for materials separation in gases (e.g. carbon dioxide, hydrocarbons, hydrogen) and liquids (e.g. water, fine chemicals in chemical process technology); membranes for the use of renewable energy sources such as alcohol and hydrogen; storage materials for hydrogen; membranes with switchable pores, and polymer-based materials with improved mechanical properties.

The development of new membranes is accompanied by the design of corresponding membrane modules and of complete separation processes — all the way to pilot plants — with computer simulation also being utilized.

Major objectives of our work with new types of nanostructured materials on the basis of block copolymers and composites of functional nanoscale fillers in a polymer matrix include study of the influence of morphology on the separation properties in membranes and improvement of mechanical properties. In this work we are also particularly interested in structure formation during processing of composites and block copolymers and the resulting relationships between structures and properties in films (membranes) and bulk materials.

Functionalised Nanostructured Polymer Materials

In the area of membrane materials for separation and selective transport, the focus is on the development of membranes based on polymer blends, polymers with inorganic fillers, polymers with large intrinsic free volumes, catalytically active membranes, and new types of block copolymers with variable pore size.

Polymer Materials for Membrane based Processes

New types of multifunctional materials for use in hydrogen technology are being developed for application in a future energy supply based on hydrogen as the main energy carrier. The main subject areas are the development of membranes for hydrogen separation from regenerative sources and from process gases, for hydrogen processing and purification, and for fuel cells with sufficiently high proton conductivity at temperatures of more than 100°C, which are intended for use e.g. in motor vehicles. For completion of the hydrogen process chain, nanostructured light metal composites for hydrogen storage, corresponding tank prototypes and cost effective production routes are being developed, tested and optimised. Target of materials development here is a high storage capacity of more than 5 weight percent and more than 40 kg H₂ / m³ at. At the same time the materials shall show fast absorption and desorption kinetics at temperatures of well below 200 °C and at moderate pressures of less than 100 – 150 bar.

Multi-functional Materials for Hydrogen Technology