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Christoph Neinhuis

by admin — last modified 2008-03-19 10:47

Functional plant morphology, biomechanics and biomimetics

Previous and current research

Biomechanics

Plants evolved numerous highly optimized combinations of materials based on polysaccharides, proteins or combinations the latter with minerals. These materials have evolved as an adaptation to various environmental conditions. Until now, only a limited number of species have been investigated in detail but some of the properties may be of potential interest for engineering. Current projects study the mechanical properties plant cuticles, especially tomato fruits and succulents, the changing properties of the polymer during fruit ripening and growth and which factors influence the mechanical properties of the cuticle. A second project studies the architecture and biomechanics of the vascular system of columnar cacti, a fibre composite.

Functional plant surfaces and biomimetics. Plant surfaces are multifunctional interfaces serving different purposes. We extensively studied water repellency and self-cleaning properties of a large number of plant and animal species. The results have successfully been transferred in technical materials. Currently more general anti-adhesive properties are studied because of their large potential in technical materials such as aluminium and steel. In addition, alternative coatings, such as archebacterial lipids are evaluated for different applications.

Additional research topics

Molecular phylogenetics and evolution of plants

Floristics and nature conservation in Saxony

The pictures cover the current research topics related to the DIGS-BB: Biomechanics of fibre composites in plants, such as the vascular system of cacti or the plant cuticle. Biomimetic multifunctional surfaces especially those providing minimised adhesion.

Future prospects and goals

Future project related to the DIGS-BB will cover further exploration of natural surface phenomena, especially in organisms living under very specific conditions to uncover adaptations that might help to solve surface related problems in engineering such as adhesion, non-adhesion, anti-fouling, etc.
The second topic is connected to natural polymers and fibre reinforced composites. One of the long-term perspectives is to understand the way plants build up a polymer such as the cuticle and incorporate fibres like cellulose and at the same time achieves to keep the flexibility to grow and adapt to changing requirements.

About

1984-1990:	Biology (Diploma) at the University of Bonn
1993:	Dissertation at the University of Bonn
1999:	Habilitation
1999:	awarded by the Philip-Morris-Foundation
2000-2002	Professor for Botany at the University of Cologne
since 2002	Professor for Botany at the TU Dresden, Germany

Selected publications

Barthlott, W. & C. Neinhuis, 1997: The purity of sacred lotus or escape from contamination in biological surfaces, Planta 202: 1-8.

Neinhuis, C. & W. Barthlott, 1997: Characterisation and distribution of water-repellent, self-cleaning plant surfaces. Annals of Botany 79: 667-677.

Fürstner, R., W. Barthlott, C. Neinhuis & P. Walzel, (2005): Wetting and self-clening properties of artificial superhydrophobic surfaces. Langmuir 21, 956-961

Bargel, H. & C. Neinhuis (2005): Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) fruit growth and ripening as related to the biomechanical properties of fruit skin and isolated cuticle. Journal of Experimental Botany, 56, 1049-1060.

Koch, K., C. Neinhuis, H.J. Ensikat & W. Barthlott (2004): Self assembly of epicuticular waxes on living plant surfaces imaged by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Journal of Experimental Botany, 55: 711-718

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Christoph Neinhuis