The Integrated Materials Systems research group is an interdisciplinary group embedded in the Institute of Advanced Ceramics at TUHH. Our main research interest lies in the tailoring and precise functionalization of interfaces of ceramics and metal-ceramic hybrids for relevant applications, building a bridge between materials science and manufacturing engineering. Our main focus is to understand and control the microscale and nanoscale processes at interfaces and/or within microstructures, to be able to tailor the macroscopic materials’ properties. Here, we differentiate between “bulk phase or design properties” and “nano- to microscale-driven properties”, where nanoscale size effects and interfaces play a fundamental role. We strive to study and understand the fundamental structure-processing-properties’ relationships to be able to develop integrated materials systems targeting three main trusts:
- optical (photonics) properties, including structural colors (visible range) and reflective thermal barrier coatings (IR range)
- “chemical” properties, including photocatalysis, dark catalysis and water splitting for energy generation
- advanced and innovative manufacturing, including the development of additive manufacturing combined with self-assembly of hybrid and hierarchical materials systems, as well as atomic layer deposition onto powders and 3D structures
For further details and to learn more about our current as past projects, check the tab “Research”.
Societal impact or “Technik für die Menschen”
In IMS we believe that engineering should have as main and overarching goal the improvement of our daily life by addressing societal-relevant challenges. Advances in materials science and engineering could lead to major progress and breakthroughs in relevant fields. Some examples where the IMS team acts or has interest are sustainable energy generation, pollutants abatement, bioinspired pigments (replacement of toxic pigments), energy saving by performance improvement (reflective thermal barrier coatings and self-lubricating materials) or self-sustainable actuation (interactive bioinspired materials). This requires an interdisciplinary team enthusiastic about materials science and engineering, but also trustworthy international collaborators and industry contacts. If you have a materials science or engineering challenge that you would like to tackle together with the IMS team, contact the team director.