Main Research Topics

The project deals with the following research topics, organized in two modules:

module 1

In Module 1, materials with high specific surfaces of biogenic origin are investigated with the aim of generating a fundamental understanding of the production, characterization and application potentials of these materials (e.g. foams, aerogels, nanostructures, hybrid materials) and taking important steps towards energy- and resource-efficient use. In particular, resource-saving and sustainable (chemical) processes, e.g. water-based, are at the forefront of research interests. Examples of applications can be found in biogenic filter materials (e.g. for water treatment), lightweight construction, energy storage, thermal insulation, sound insulation, construction, as interactive surfaces, etc. Active and computational materials are also becoming increasingly important, and ideally also multifunctional.

module 2

Module 2 addresses the controlled structuring and functionalization of surfaces and interfaces. Interactions of materials with the environment occur via these interfaces, i.e. the functionality, application properties and experienced qualities are determined to a large extent via them. The overall goal is to integrate new and, above all, multiple functions into these interfaces and to create corresponding interactive interfaces. Functionalization with active or adaptive components creates (switchable) interfaces that enable complex interactions over staggered length scales, following the example of nature. Furthermore, active material integration in new interfaces and as a component of new interactions holds great promise for the future: not only can new fields of application be opened up, but previously unknown qualities and materialities can also be explored and multisensory, physical-digital user experiences made possible in the first place.

MATERIALS WITH HIGHly SPECIFIC SURFACES OF BIOGENIC ORIGIN
  • Development and characterization of foams from tannin and/or lignin
  • Hybrid structures made of a ceramic/tannin or lignin composite
  • Production and application of biogenic foams in the construction sector
  • Production and application of biogenic foams for lightweight structures
  • Lightweight construction with biogenic materials
  • Machining and processing technologies for biogenic foams
  • Shaping and surface technologies for biogenic building materials
STRUCTURING AND FUNCTIONALIZATION OF SURFACES AND INTERFACES
  • Functionalization of surfaces with extracts from biogenic resources
  • Functionalization of wood and wood-based material surfaces
  • Interaction materials based on biogenic materials
  • Smart Materials Interaction: Materiality from the perspective of interaction research
  • What is “good” from the user’s point of view
  • Contextual Materials: Interplay of contextual needs, material innovation and user needs
  • Tangible Interfaces: Tangible Interfaces (“touchable” interaction) through future material properties, future material properties driven by interaction needs
Publications
2019

Sommerauer, L., Grzybek, J., Elsaesser, M. S., Benisek, A., Sepperer, T., Dachs, E., Hüsingh, N., Petutschnigg, A.,& Tondi, G. 2019. Furfuryl Alcohol and Lactic Acid Blends: Homo-or Co-Polymerization?. Polymers, 11(10), 1533.

Maurer, B.; Fuchsberger, V. Dislocated Boardgames: Design Potentials for Remote Tangible Play. Multimodal Technologies Interact. 2019, 3, 72. https://doi.org/10.3390/mti3040072

2020

Eckardt, J., Neubauer, J., Sepperer, T., Donato, S., Zanetti, M., Cefarin, N., Vaccari, L., Lippert, M., Wind, M., Schnabel, T., Petutschnigg, A., Tondi, G., 2020. Synthesis and Characterization of High-Performing Sulfur-Free Tannin Foams. Polymers 12, 564. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12030564

Koopmann, A.-K., Schuster, C., Torres-Rodríguez, J., Kain, S., Pertl-Obermeyer, H., Petutschnigg, A., Hüsing, N., 2020. Tannin-Based Hybrid Materials and Their Applications: A Review. Molecules 25, 4910. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25214910

Sepperer, T., Tondi, G., Petutschnigg, A., Young, T.M., Steiner, K., 2020. Mitigation of Ammonia Emissions from Cattle Manure Slurry by Tannins and Tannin-Based Polymers. Biomolecules 10, 581. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom10040581

Vogel, S., Campreguer França, N., Economidou, E., Maurer, B., Tscheligi, M., 2020. Circular HCI: Tools for Embedding Circular Thinking in Material-Driven Design, in: Companion Publication of the 2020 ACM Designing Interactive Systems Conference. Presented at the DIS ’20: Designing Interactive Systems Conference 2020, ACM, Eindhoven Netherlands, pp. 233–237. https://doi.org/10.1145/3393914.3395894

Wagner, K., Musso, M., Kain, S., Willför, S., Petutschnigg, A., Schnabel, T., 2020. Larch Wood Residues Valorization through Extraction and Utilization of High Value-Added Products. Polymers 12, 359. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12020359

Sepperer, T., Hüsing, N., Schnabel, T., Petutschnigg, A., 2020. Functionalisation of beech wood using magnetic nanoparticles. 9TH HARDWOOD PROCEEDINGS PT. 1. (ISSN 2631-004X).

2021

T. Sepperer, P. Šket, A. Petutschnigg, and N. Hüsing, “Tannin-Furanic Foams Formed by Mechanical Agitation: Influence of Surfactant and Ingredient Ratios,” Polymers, vol. 13, no. 18, p. 3058, Sep. 2021, doi: 10.3390/polym13183058.

J. Grzybek, T. Sepperer, A. Petutschnigg, and T. Schnabel, “Organosolv Lignin from European Tree Bark: Influence of Bark Pretreatment,” Materials, vol. 14, no. 24, p. 7774, Dec. 2021, doi: 10.3390/ma14247774.

G. Kain, M. Morandini, A. Stamminger, T. Granig, E. M. Tudor, T. Schnabel, and A. Petutschnigg, “Production and Physical–Mechanical Characterization of Peat Moss (Sphagnum) Insulation Panels,” Materials, vol. 14, no. 21, p. 6601, Nov. 2021, doi: 10.3390/ma14216601.

T. Sepperer, A. Petutschnigg, and K. Steiner, “Effect of Flushing Milk and Acidic Whey on pH and Nitrogen Loss of Cattle Manure Slurry,” Atmosphere, vol. 12, no. 9, p. 1222, Sep. 2021, doi: 10.3390/atmos12091222.

Koopmann A.K, Malfait W.J, Sepperer T., Huesing N. A Systematic Study on Bio-Based Hybrid Aerogels Made of Tannin and Silica. Materials (Basel). 2021 Sep 11;14(18):5231. doi: 10.3390/ma14185231. PMID: 34576455; PMCID: PMC8468457.

Koopmann A., Torres-Rodríguez J., Salihovic M., Schoiber J., Musso M., Fritz-Popovski G., Huesing N., Elsaesser M.S., “Tannin-Based Nanoscale Carbon Spherogels as Electrodes for Electrochemical Applications”, ACS Applied Nano Materials 2021 4 (12), 14115-14125, DOI: 10.1021/acsanm.1c03431.

2022

Morandini, M.C.; Kain, G.; Eckhardt, J.; Petutschnigg, A.; Tippner, J. (2022): Physical-Mechanical Properties of Peat Moss (Sphagnum) Insulation Panels with Bio-Based Adhesives. Materials, 15, 3299. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15093299

Sepperer, T.; Petutschnigg, A., Steiner, K. (2022): Long-term study on the nitrogen retentation potential of bark extracts and a polymer based thereof in cattle manure slurry. Bioresources Technology Reports 18, 101085. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biteb.2022.101085

Torres-Rodriguez J, E Bedolla D, D’Amico F, Koopmann AK, Vaccari L, Saccomano G, Kohns R, Huesing N. Polyvinylidene Fluoride Aerogels with Tailorable Crystalline Phase Composition. Gels. 2022 Nov 9;8(11):727. doi: 10.3390/gels8110727. PMID: 36354635.

Koopmann A.K, Bartschmid T., Huesing N. and Elsaesser M.S. Renewable, Organic and Related Carbon Aerogel Monoliths from the Polycondensation of Tannin with 5-(Hydroxymethyl)furfural. JSST. 2022, accepted.

Koopmann A.K, Ehgartner C.R., Euchler D. and Huesing N. Sustainable and Recyclable Tannin Gels as Biosorbent for Environmental Applications. 2022, submitted.

Schuster C., Murer M., Stelzhammer B., Oostingh G., Huesing N. (2022 – Publication in progress, not published): Multifunctional tannin-based hydrogels for sustainable flexible ionotronic devices.

Schuster C., Huesing N. (2022 – Publication in progress, not published): Tannin-based micro- and nanofibers for sustainable carbon fiber electrodes.

Schuster C., Euchler D., Heugenhauser A., Huesing N. (2022 – Publication in progress, not published): Responsive luminescence in transparent porous polyvinylpolysilsesquioxanes by incorporation of tannin-based carbon quantum dots.

Kohns R., Torres-Rodríguez J., Euchler D., Seyffertitz M., Paris O., Reichenauer G., Enke D., Huesing N.: Drying of Hierarchically Organized Porous Silica Monoliths – Comparison of Ambient Pressure and Supercritical Drying. Gels. November 2022 submitted.

Sepperer, T.; Petutschnigg, A.; Koopmann, A.-K.; Torres-Rodrigues, J.; Šket, P.; Bedolla, D.-E.; Hüsing, N.; Elsaesser, M. S. Surface Modification of Tannin-Furanic Foams by Silylation. 2022 submitted

Kain S., Ecker J.V., Dorfner B., Haider A., Young T.M., Schnabel T., Petutschnigg A. “Simulation of moisture-induced shape changes of Fused Layer Modeling (FLM) 3D printed wood/Polylactic Acid (PLA) composites “ Bioresources. 2022 Accepted

Kain S., Morandini C.M., Sepperer T., Sommerauer L., Matevž K., Musso M., Petutschnigg A., Tippner J. “Fabrication and characterization of novel natural fibre composite filaments made of Polylactic Acid and ligno-cellulosic residuals for Fused Layer Modeling 3D printing” Materials Today Communications (Elsevier). 2022 Submitted