The Biomimetics group of Ille C. Gebeshuber deals with physical principles of organisms and their transfer to the human sphere. Most biological functionalities have their origin on the nanoscale: Periodic nanostructures such as appear on wing scales in tropical butterflies cause iridescent structural colours and thermoregulation, nanoscale nail beds on cicada wing surfaces serve as mechanical bactericide, even functional against multidrug resistant bacteria. Microscale structures cause hydrophobicity and controlled water runoff, as can be seen in Lotus leaves. Many such functionalities are structure dependent, and can be transferred to technologically relevant materials. 

Latest publications:

Our "Good Enough" paper appeared in Advanced Functional Materials, opens an external URL in a new window in 2023 - a TU press release, opens an external URL in a new window was also written about it! In February 2024, our work on bactericidal cicada wings, which can inspire new antibacterial coatings, was published by Springer Nature in the journal Applied Nanoscience, opens an external URL in a new window.

More information can be found in the following videos and on the personal website of Ille C. Gebeshuber, opens an external URL in a new window!