Alexander Bismarck

Research question 

Professor Bismarck leads the Polymer & Composite Engineering (PaCe) Group at the University of Vienna, Austria. At the PaCe Group, the focus is on the manufacture and characterization of advanced materials such as fiber-reinforced high-performance (nano)composites, porous materials, and polymeric drag reducing agents. The research of our group focuses on the development of manufacturing processes for multifunctional composites for energy storage, fungal materials, and emulsion templating for the synthesis of porous polymers useful for process intensification.

One area of particular interest is structural supercapacitors, multifunctional materials that both carry mechanical loads and store electrical energy. Part of my research on supercapacitors is carried out in collaboration with Luleå University of Technology (LTU). 

Sustainability Aspects

Renewable materials are at the core of my research. For all materials we develop, we emphasize on process intensification, that is, designing with less materials, considering manufacturing routes that consume less energy and are more efficient, while keeping recycling in mind.

Although we do not conduct life-cycle assessments ourselves, we collaborate closely with experts in the field to better understand material cycles. This helps us to reuse materials whenever possible, minimize waste, develop processes that emit less carbon dioxide, and make efficient use of available resources.