David Nescholta, Léo Dagand, Tina Schüler (together with Petra Uhlmann), Carolin Böhm (togehter with Petra Uhlmann)

We program material functions through chemical design and develop sustainable, adaptive polymer coatings across length scales for a circular materials future.

Sustainability begins at the molecular design stage of a material.
Our research aims to understand how chemical design can be translated into programmable and sustainable material functions across multiple length scales. We develop novel polymers and intelligent coatings and investigate how information encoded at the molecular level is transferred through polymer networks, interfaces, and hierarchical structures into functional polymer coatings with precisely tunable properties. Our research approach combines polymer synthesis, materials design, and multiscale structural understanding to systematically elucidate the relationship between molecular architecture and macroscopic function.

Building on this foundation, we develop polymer coatings whose functions are not static but can be selectively activated, adapted, or reversibly modified. We consider materials as programmable systems whose functions can be controlled throughout their entire lifecycle – from fabrication and use to repair, reuse, and controlled disassembly.

In this way, we bridge fundamental molecular research and technological application. Our coatings combine adaptive surface functionalities with programmable switching mechanisms to enable materials that remain functional, repairable, and reusable throughout their lifecycle. Through this approach, we establish the foundation for resource-efficient coatings and contribute to a circular materials economy.

• Preparation and physico-chemical characterization of smart polymer films, like polymer brushes
• UCST-polymer films
• switching of polymer film properties by electrochemical trigger
• Synthesis and characterization of functional polymers (controlled RAFT and ATRP polymerization)
• Transfer of polymer brush layers from lab to real application
• assembly/disassembly on demand structures
• Used physico-chemical techniques: FTIR, REM/EDX, AFM, UV-Vis, inverse GC, XPS, XRD, contact angle measurements, ellipsometry

• Coordination polymers, like metal organic frameworks (MOFs), as stationary phases for gas chromatographic application and physico-chemical investigation of the adsorption behavior of organic molecules in MOFs using inverse gas chromatography

• Supramolecular chemistry and crystal engineering

• Head of Keylab upCoat
• Head of Cluster Scalable Controlled Interfaces

• Thin functional polymer films on different substrates (Si-wafer, glass, foil, cellulose...)
• Investigation of cation-induced UCST-behavior
• Electrochemical switching of polymer brushes
• Up-scaling of lab-established coating techniques and polymers for smart surfaces
• Surfaces with switchable and adaptive adhesion
• Inkjet-printing of polymersolutions
• Assembly/disassembly on demand
  

• participant of ZIM-network "Antimik" (Antimicrobial surfaces and hygienic coatings)
• SWAMpaper - "Entwicklung einer verfahrenstechnischen Vorgehensweise zur Funktionalisierung von Papieroberflächen am Beispiel antimikrobieller Ausrüstung" together with PTS Heidenau; BMWi, AiF-IGF; 2015-2017
• Apollon - "Adaptive Polymerbürstensysteme für industrietaugliche Verfahren zur langzeitstabilen Oberflächenmodifikation von nachhaltigen Foliensubstraten"; together with IFAM Bremen; BMWi, AiF-IGF; 2015-2018
• ESIRhood - "Entwicklung einer neuartigen Dunstabzugshaube mit innovativen Lösungen zur Geruchs- und Oberflächenverschmutzungsbeseitigung"; together with Blümchen AG Reutlingen; BMWi, AiF-ZIM; 2016-2018
• AFOSS - "Neue, schaltbare oder adaptive Funktionsoberflächen durch Ein-Schritt Applikation von adaptiven Polymerbürstenbeschichtungen auf technischen Substraten durch Lackierung"; together with IFAM Bremen; AiF-IGF; 2018-2021

• REDEIS - "Neuartige Beschichtungskonzepte zur Reduzierung des Eiswachstums auf Metalloberflächen" together with IFAM Bremen; BMWi, AiF-IGF; 2019-2023

• PolymerDruck - "Entwicklung funktioneller Polymerbeschichtungen und de-ren anwendungsrelevanten Applikation durch den Digital-druck" together with SID Leipzig; BMWi, AiF-IGF; 2022-2025

• E-Brush - "Electrochemical Switching of Functional Polymer Brushes and Coronas" together with Prof. Felix Plamper (TU Bergakademie Freiberg); DFG; 2025-2028