Materials that change the world
A cut that heals itself, concrete that binds carbon dioxide – researchers in Germany are working on revolutionary materials.
Clara Krug ,
13.03.2025 
Innovation factory for supermaterials
True all-rounders: aerogels are not only mouldable, resistant to high temperatures and electrically conductive, they are also sustainable as they are made from renewable raw materials. These open-pored, nanostructured materials can contain up to 99 per cent air. They have a wide range of applications, too – from heat and sound insulation to energy storage and biodegradable packaging. So it’s all the more surprising that the supermaterials have barely been put to commercial use to date. This is now set to change: the Aerogel Launch Factory (ALF) is a centre in Jülich that supports start-ups and companies in the development of aerogels. The project is being run by the Institute of Materials Research at the German Aerospace Centre (DLR).
Revolution in the construction sector
Ecofriendly building material of the future: researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems IKTS have developed an innovative bioconcrete. Unlike conventional concrete, the manufacture of this bioconcrete not only produces no carbon dioxide – the climate-damaging gas is even put to active use in the course of the manufacturing process. In producing this biogenic building material, the researchers make use of cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green bacteria. Grown by means of photosynthesis, these bacteria form stable structures with materials such as sand or renewable raw materials – the basis for bioconcrete.
Like human skin: self-healing material
Inspired by nature: researchers at Aalto University in Finland and the University of Bayreuth in southern Germany have jointly developed a hydrogel that has self-healing properties similar to human skin. After four hours, an incision on a surface containing the hydrogel is almost invisible, while healing is complete after 24 hours. Its discovery could fundamentally change the development of new materials in the fields of medicine, robotics and wound healing. “This work is a fascinating example of how biological materials inspire us to discover new combinations of properties for synthetic materials,” says Professor Olli Ikkala of Aalto University. “Imagine robots with robust, self-healing skin or synthetic tissue that repairs itself.”
