Student Thesis Projects
Membranes for Water Applications
Master's Thesis Green Membranes for Green Water Treatment
Membrane processes play a vital role in water treatment. Today they are widely used in drinking water treatment, seawater desalination and the food industry among other applications. Although they allow for more energy- and resource-efficient operation than conventional large-scale industrial processes, producing polymer membranes still presents challenges for a sustainable industry. This is due to the usage of polymers from petroleum sources and of toxic organic solvents such as NMP or ...
Bachelor's Thesis / Master's Thesis New Fine-tunable Polyelectrolyte NF Hollow Fibers
Polymeric membranes are used on huge scales for kidney dialysis, wastewater treatment, and drinking water production. However, almost all polymeric membranes are fabricated by a process reliant on the use of unsustainable, expensive, and reprotoxic dipolar aprotic solvents. The search for greener solvents for membrane production is therefore the subject of current research. An alternative approach, in which water can be utilized as a solvent, is the use of ...
Bachelor's Thesis / Research Internship SIPS: Salt Influence on the Formation of Polyelectrolyte Membranes
Our global society is going through a time of change, with climate change and water scarcity becoming major challenges. To tackle these issues, we need to make chemical separation processes more efficient, which would help to lower the energy use and improve access to clean water. Membranes with advanced functions beyond just basic separation, can play an important role in this effort. Polyelectrolytes (PEs), which are polymers with ...
Membranes for Energy Applications
Bachelor's Thesis / Master's Thesis Next-generation PEM Materials for Fuel Cells and Electrolyzers
Electrochemical cells, in particular ion exchange membrane fuel cells (IEMFCs) and electrolyzers, are central to the energy sector’s transition from fossil resources to efficient and sustainable systems for energy conversion and storage. They convert chemical energy directly into electrical energy and are widely regarded as enabling technologies for a sustainable, CO₂-free energy system ...
Bachelor's Thesis / Master's Thesis / Research Internship Novel Polymer Systems for Membranes in Demanding Separation and Energy Applications
Polymer membranes are essential components in a wide range of applications, from water treatment and chemical separations to electrochemical energy conversion. Their performance depends critically on the choice of material system, membrane geometry, and processing conditions. In our research group, we develop novel polymer-based membrane materials that combine high chemical and thermal stability with tunable material properties ...
Bachelor's Thesis / Master's Thesis / Research Internship Stable Anion Exchange Membranes for Fuel Cells and Electrolyzers
Anion exchange membranes are a promising route to cost-effective electrochemical energy conversion. Proton exchange membrane devices commonly rely on scarce and expensive noble metal catalysts such as platinum and iridium, which limit scalability. Anion exchange platforms operate in alkaline media and can employ catalysts based on abundant metals, which offers a credible path to lower cost ...