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Living Composite Material
Microorganisms that can be found everywhere in our environment are able to produce a variety of molecules from very simple precursors. Some of the products synthetized by bacteria are materials with fascinating properties such as cellulose with excellent mechanical properties. Materials produced by living cells are attractive because they are produced with minimal energy input and are based on green chemicals. Moreover, if well-designed, these materials still contain the living cells and are thus able to react onto external stimuli. Therefore, they have the potential to repair themselves upon damage or form materials with locally defined microstructures and architectures.
Keywords: Living Materials, Bacteria, Material Science, Master Thesis
This research project is about developing a composite material solely produced by living organisms. Our goal is to benefit from two different types of bacteria that produce complementary materials and combine them into a single material with advanced properties. During this project, we will establish protocols to culture different bacteria in various environments and investigate the influence of their growth conditions on the properties, composition and microstructure of the formed material.
This research project is about developing a composite material solely produced by living organisms. Our goal is to benefit from two different types of bacteria that produce complementary materials and combine them into a single material with advanced properties. During this project, we will establish protocols to culture different bacteria in various environments and investigate the influence of their growth conditions on the properties, composition and microstructure of the formed material.
Develop a composite material solely produced by microbes with enhanced structural properties.
Develop a composite material solely produced by microbes with enhanced structural properties.
If you are interested in this project or have further questions, please contact mathias.steinacher@mat.ethz.ch
If you are interested in this project or have further questions, please contact mathias.steinacher@mat.ethz.ch