Vienna University of Technology

Faculty Member, Allgemeine Physik

Other Affiliations: National University of Malaysia, Institute of Microengineering and Nanoelectronics (IMEN)

Professor at IMEN

Institute of Microengineering and Nanoelectronics

About

Below, a list of my Current Research Projects.
If you are interested in joining/collaboration/more information, write me an email.

Biomimetics of Nanostructures, start 2008

Focusing on detailed understanding of basic underlying principles of nanostructures that lead to physical colours (as opposed to pigment colours) in biological systems and the subsequent development of a fast, cheap and simple production method for such colours. Samples: butterfly wings with amazingly colourful scales made from nanostructures, peacock feathers structural colours (photonic crystals), moth eyes with antireflective surfaces, diatoms (glass making algae) with naturally nanostructured surfaces resulting in nice colours, beetle scales with chiral liquid crystal surfaces, iridescent blue ferns (magic!), iridescent flowers.


Nanomedicine, start 2007

Collaboration with Prof. Fritz Aumayr, Institute of General Physics, Vienna University of Technology, and Franz Gabor, Pharmacy Department of the University of Vienna. AFM, nanoparticles, cancer cell targeting, stem cell differentiation depending on mechanical substrate properties.


BioScreen Project, start 2009

Analysis of the rich flora in South East Asia concerning its biomimetic inspirational potential for technological applications. Central aspect: installing cooperations between institutions in the European Union with local institutions in South East Asia. Increasing awareness about the technological innovation potential of the rainforest and its abundance of species might cause a paradigm shift in the way locals view the pristine forests. BioScreen is a pilot project with the installation of collaborations between key institutions serving as base for further projects as major task.

Biornamentics: Architecture Defined by Natural Patterns, May 2010-April 2011

The project is concerned with the new design strategy "New Ornament". "New Ornament" is an innovative design strategy that builds upon digital computer modelling techniques and that deals with algorithms, digital operations and the connection of planning and production. Living Nature is continuously changing in a process of adaptation and thereby adjusts to a complex, changing environment; utilisation of these highly optimised solutions promise innovations that are smarter and more efficient than traditional ones. Templates from Nature, static and dynamic patterns, shall be investigated and the results shall be implemented as design strategies via a transfer process. The main goal of this research is the investigation of aesthetic and functional interpretations for a novel type of architecture which can emerge with novel production technologies, the elaboration of a biomimetics design method and the "New Ornament".

FWF PEEK Project
Principal Investigator: Barbara Imhof, Location of Research: University of Applied Arts, Vienna

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