Back to TUM-PREP Projects overview

Project Overview

Project Code: LS 14

Project name:

Development and Characterisation of Novel Superhydrophic Coatings

TUM Department:

LS - School of Life Sciences

TUM Chair / Institute:

Functional Materials for Food Packaging

Research area:

Material chemistry, Polymer science, Materials engineering, Applied chemistry

Student background:

Chemical EngineeringChemistryFurther disciplinesMechanical EngineeringPhysics

Further disciplines:

Materials Science; Nanoscience & Nanotechnology

Participation also possible online only:

Planned project location:

Technical University of Munich
Maximus-von-Imhof-Forum 2
85354 Freising, Germany

Project Supervisor - Contact Details


Title:

Prof. Dr.

Given name:

Stephen

Family name:

Schrettl

E-mail:

stephen.schrettl@tum.de

Phone:

+49 8161 71 3785

Additional Project Supervisor - Contact Details


Title:

MSc

Given name:

Muzamil

Family name:

Jalil

E-mail:

muzamil.jalil@tum.de

Phone:

+49 8161 71 6165

Additional Project Supervisor - Contact Details


Title:

Given name:

Family name:

E-mail:

Phone:

Project Description


Project description:

Low-maintenance, easy-clean surfaces reduce chemicals, energy use, and downtime across different industries. Superhydrophobic (and application-tuned superoleophilic/underwater-oleophobic) coatings enable simple, gravity-driven oil/water separation and self-cleaning, but many high-performance systems rely on fluorinated chemistries. To align with sustainability goals, we target fluorine-free coatings that retain high wetting performance and durability on robust substrates.

In the Functional Materials for Food Packaging group, we take a bio-inspired approach – creating lotus-like surfaces by forming nanostructured polyalkylsiloxane (PASO) networks from non-fluorinated organosilanes on metals, PET, or glass fiber. By tuning the roughness and surface energy, we aim for high water contact angles, low hysteresis, and low sliding angles.

In this project, the student will formulate silane sols (amine-/epoxy-/acrylate-terminated), deposit coatings by dip/spray/spin coating, and engineer hierarchical textures (e.g., nanoparticle-assisted or phase-separation routes). To this end, we will characterize the surfaces for their wetting properties, morphology (SEM), and chemistry (FTIR), to then demonstrate functionality in a simple, gravity-driven oil/water separation test on coated meshes. Finally, the durability of the coatings will be assessed and regeneration strategies for circular use will be explored.

Working hours per week planned:

35-40

Prerequisites


Required study level minimum (at time of TUM PREP project start):

2 years of bachelor studies completed

Subject related:

Organic chemistry (with lab); one of
Polymer/Materials/Physical Chemistry; basic characterization techniques (NMR, FTIR, UV-Vis).

Nice to have: SEM characterization; durability testing; basics of oil/water separation; sol-gel/organosilane chemistry; thin-film deposition; wetting/contact-angle measurements; surface engineering.

Other:

Careful lab practice & safety; enthusiasm for bio-inspired
materials design & sustainability.

Nice to have: data analysis experience, polymer processing.

  • Keine Stichwörter