Research Strand 4: New areas of application for polymers
Research topics in this strand:
osmose motor based on hydrogels    (more Info available)
Desalination with hydrogels    (more Info available)
Entropy-Wheel    (more Info available)

In this strand, we realize new application ideas for polymers. Prominent examples are new application for hydrogels normally used in diapers or for water delivery in agriculture. We showed that they can be used for water desalination [Arens et al., 2017] or for the construction on an osmotic motor. Both application are based on the capability of hydrogels to change the ion concentration in electrolytes. Another example is the entropy wheel where polymeric elastomers are used to build a machine that transforms waste heat into mechanical energy. The basic concept behind is the usage of the change in the restoring force of elastomers under strain by ongoing temperature changes. A partial heated wheel starts to rotate, so it transfers heat to mechanical energy, also working for very low heat differences of only 50° C. This allows heat recovery also for low temperature of cooling liquids not possible with actual available methods.


Selected related articles for research strand 4:
Please see also the full list of publications  
A systematic study for predicting the performance of forward osmosis desalination using commercial low-cost superabsorber polymer (SAP) hydrogels as draw agents: water flux enhancement by tailoring process parameters W. Omar, S. Palloks, H. Zhang, M. Pollard, F. Saravia, M. Wilhelm; Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol. 11 925–941 (2025); DOI 10.1039/D4EW00918E
Desalination of Salt Water Via Polyelectrolyte Hydrogels and Osmotic Motors J. Höpfner, L. Arens, K. Schlag, C. Pfeifer, H. Zhang, C. Fengler, L. Arens, A. Jangizehi, M. Wilhelm; 5th World Conferend on sustainable life science Wocols 2023; ISBN: 978-975-6478-98-1, 9 (2023)
Desalination of Seawater Using Cationic Poly(acrylamide) Hydrogels and Mechanical Forces for Separation C. Fengler; L. Arens; H. Horn; M. Wilhelm; Macromol Mater Eng 305; p 2000383 (2020); DOI 10.1002/mame.202000383
Optimizing the Power Production in an Osmotic Engine via Microfluidic Fabricated and Surface Crosslinked Hydrogels Utilizing Fresh and Salt Water A. Jangizehi; C. Fengler; L. Arens; M. Wilhelm; Macromol Mater Eng 305; p 2000174 (2020); DOI 10.1002/mame.202000174
Osmotic Engine: Translating Osmotic Pressure into Macroscopic Mechanical Force via Poly(Acrylic Acid) Based Hydrogels L. Arens, F. Weißenfeld, C.O. Klein, K. Schlag, M. Wilhelm; Advanced Science 1700112 (2017); DOI: 10.1002/advs.201700112
Link to full article containing title page
Energy consumption for the desalination of salt water using polyelectrolyte hydrogels as the separation agent L. Arens, J.B. Albrecht, J. Höpfner, K. Schlag, M. Wilhelm; Macromol. Chem. Phys. 218 1700237 (2017); DOI: 10.1002/macp.201700237
Das Entropierad : Maschine aus Konformationsänderungen I.F.C. Naue, M. Wilhelm; Phys. in uns. Zeit 44 36-39 (2013); DOI 10.1002/piuz.201301318