The overall goal of this DFG founded project is to produce novel inorganic coatings for cement-bound materials. Cementitious materials are the most significant due to their advantages in terms of raw material availability, processing, usability, material properties, durability and price. On the other hand, there is the large amount of CO2 in the production of cement. The coatings are intended to significantly increase the service life of the materials. In return, this would lead to savings in cement use and thus help reduce global CO2 emissions. Our idea is to formulate a completely inorganic coating (without carbon). The opportunity arose because we were able to shift the hydrophobic carrier into a rare earth oxide. Rare earth oxides (such as Eu2O3) have an electronic structure in which the 4f orbitals are shielded from interactions with the environment by the full octet of electrons in the 5s2p6 outer shell. Consequently, these atoms would be less likely to exchange electrons and would not form a hydrogen bond with the water molecules at the interface. The aim of the project will be to anchor the hydrophobic carrier in the material with ligands so that it is not washed out again. All components used must be biologically harmless in the long term. By using model surfaces, the use of materials can be greatly reduced. In addition, calcium silicate hydrate phases grown on silicon single crystals are ideally reproducible and can be used in surface science methods. Attempts will then be made to transfer the process to real cement-bound material surfaces.

This project is a cooperation between the KIT working group 'Atomistic Modeling and Simulation of Mineral Materials and Interfaces' led by Dr. Peter Thissen and the working group for physical chemistry led by Prof. Dr. Michael Kumke in Potsdam.

The coating industry is currently one industry with the highest turnover in the world. In this interesting project, we offer the opportunity to enter the coating industry and also cooperate with market-leading companies.

We are looking for a new team member with a degree in natural sciences. The project offers the opportunity to work both experimentally and theoretically - the focus can be chosen individually.

You have a degree (diploma/master) in a scientific field (e.g. chemistry, geology, geo-ecology, mineralogy, materials science) and are interested in atomistic questions. An affinity for working on the computer is a prerequisite in order to deepen and publish the results obtained.

Participate a committed and collegial interdisciplinary team with varied activities and space for developing your own research ideas.