The Physical Analytics Group at the INM succeeded in explaining why drinking water in the community of Dossenheim (Rhein-Neckar Kreis) just outside Heidelberg had a slightly blue color some time ago: the reason was a distribution of nanoscopic, completely harmless lime particles.
Scientists at the INM present a Cobot for the first time which is equipped with microstructured surfaces for the handling of objects. Because these structures are very soft and have no sharp corners or edges, the risk of injury to humans is further reduced.
Due to the special arrangement of its molecules, a new coating made of corn starch is able to repair small scratches by itself through heat: The cross-linking via ring-shaped molecules makes the material mobile, so that it compensates for the scratches and these disappear again.
The INM has developed new processes with photochemical metallization and printing (gravure printing, inkjet printing) of transparent conductive oxides (TCOs), which are significantly more time- and cost-saving.
At this year’s Hannover Messe, INM will be presenting hybrid inks that are suitable for printing conductive structures on thin polymer films or paper, for example.
Researchers from INM and the University of California, San Diego found that the length of the humerus bone varies in a characteristic way with the body weight of the bird to optimize lift. By contrast, the elements of the feather attachments (barbules) are spaced equally for all bird species to optimally control airflow.
Scientists at INM developed a highly improved microscopy method to study proteins in hydrated state: The usage of a graphene liquid cell for transmission electron microscopy of proteins resulted in an order of magnitude higher radiation tolerance of a protein sample compared to samples in amorphous ice.
The internationally renowned materials scientist Robert M. McMeeking is appointed Leibniz Chair for his collaboration with the INM. With this award, the INM and the Leibniz Association honor the long-standing and successful cooperation between the professor of the University of California, Santa Barbara, and the Leibniz Institute.
Earthworms are always clean, even if they come from moist, sticky soil. They owe this to a dirt-repellent, lubricating layer, which forms itself again and again on its skin. Researchers at INM have now artificially recreated this system of nature.
