On Friday, April 27, SUSTech was honored to have Professor Hans-Jürgen Butt from Germany’s Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research present on the topic of “Wetting – a multiscale phenomenon.” With many students and faculty members in attendance, Professor Butt explained the basic theory and prospective applications of the superamphiphobic surfaces, as part of introducing his research and its applications to people’s daily lives, national defense, and production in both the agricultural and industrial fields.

During the lecture, Professor Butt first discussed the basic principles behind material wettability from a physical and engineering design perspective, before focusing on the microstructure requirements of super-hydrophobic and super-oleophobic material surfaces, specifically regarding their design methods.In the process, he showed the oil-water double nanofiber fabric prepared by his research group. 

Wettability and liquid adhesion are important properties for all solid surfaces and regulated by the chemical composition of the surface. As a result, material surfaces can have unique properties, such as anti-corrosion, self-cleaning, biocompatibility and frost resistance.

The Max Plank Institute is a non-profit research organization in Germany. Its research achievements are world renowned, with nearly 80 institutes scattered across the globe covering basic research in areas such as the natural sciences, life sciences, social sciences, arts, and humanities.

Professor Butt has been engaged in the research of structure and dynamics of interfaces for a significant time. With his research group focusing on the dynamics and structural design of materials, his main research includes the examination of wettability and super liquid repellency, structure & dynamics at liquid interfaces as well as surface forces.