Biography
Biography: Wolfgang Sigmund
Abstract
Surfaces are key for applications that require sticking or non-sticking, high or low friction. We recently investigated surfaces of plants and spiders and transferred these findings into synthetic surfaces. This talk will present three foci: Plastron surfaces that repel all liquids, repulsive van der Waals surfaces for quantum lubrication and tunable surfaces that respond in microseconds to stimuli. By mimicking surface structures of spiders we are able to reduce contact of water and sticking of water droplets to surfaces yielding perfectly spherical droplets without the need for fluorinated compounds. Modifications of these hairy nanostructures are capable of also repelling low surface tension liquids and oils. To further the non-sticking behavior we also investigate quantum mechanical non-sticking surfaces. By tailoring the electronic properties of engineered surfaces we can achieve repulsive van der Waals forces which are the first step towards permanent quantum lubrication. The last part of the talk will discuss how nanofibers in other morphologies can be produced and used to make surfaces that can respond within microseconds to environmental stimuli. Thus a rotating tire can be designed that may respond to the road condition (temperature or moisture) the moment it touches the road and adjust its adhesion according to its design.