Revolution in the materials sector: Startup develops material from air!

Revolution in the materials sector: Startup develops material from air!

The startup AERO MATERIALS recently presented an innovative material that consists of over 99.9% air. This groundbreaking nanomaterial was developed over a decade in Professor Rainer Adelung's research group at the Christian Albrechts University in Kiel (CAU). The company has been active as an independent GmbH since September 2025 and now presents four central areas of application for the new material.

Areas of application include actuators, filtration, optics and electromagnetic shielding. In the field of actuators, the material enables fast and precise movements and is used in micropneumatics to convert electrical signals into movement. What is particularly remarkable is the material's ability to lift up to 2 kilograms with just a few milligrams of its own weight. This is achieved through an open, lightweight framework made of tetrapodal zinc oxide (t-ZnO), which is converted into hollow tubes.

Areas of application in detail

The filtration technology benefits from the self-cleaning filters, which are revolutionized by the conductive, open-pored structures of the material. Such systems could minimize manual cleaning and replacement processes, which is usually associated with high downtime and costs with conventional filters Filson reported. In terms of optics, the material provides energy-saving light guidance and scattering while protecting sensitive electronics in mobile devices.

In order to further improve filtration efficiency, scientists are working on automatic self-cleaning filters based on the new material. These filters can be used, among other things, in water treatment systems. Traditionally, such systems often require time-consuming manual cleaning, which is not only costly but can also impact uptime.

• Selbstreinigender Wasserfilter: Nutzt Wasserdruckunterschiede zur automatischen Reinigung.
• Selbstreinigender Bewässerungsfilter: Entfernt grobe und feine Partikel.
• Selbstreinigender Ölfilter: Verbessert die Leistung von Gleitlagern.
• Selbstreinigendes Y-Sieb: Filtert Rohwasser für eine unterbrechungsfreie Wasserversorgung.
• Bernoulli-Filter: Nutzt Bernoullis Prinzip zur berührungslosen Reinigung.

Technological principles and patent applications

The material from AERO MATERIALS has aroused great interest not only in research but also in industry. Initial tests, such as when used as a loudspeaker membrane, were promising. The use in prototypes for self-cleaning filters has already passed tests in aircraft. The company holds several patents issued between 2015 and 2025. The team receives support from a group of investors including Kai Kruse and Dr. Jörg Haupt.

The basis for the performance of the new material lay in the special chemical processing of the zinc oxide, which guarantees an extremely low density and an open-pored structure. These properties make the material particularly useful for both filtration and actuation.

In filtration technology, processes such as nanofiltration also offer existing options for retaining dissolved molecules or heavy metal ions in water treatment. These membrane processes differ from other filtration methods in that they have a pore size of 2 nm or less, which makes them particularly effective for certain applications, such as Wikipedia explained. However, with these technologies, the specific requirements for temperature and chemical resistance must also be taken into account.

With this new development, AERO MATERIALS has the potential to revolutionize various industries. The combination of the innovative material and advanced filtration technologies could make a decisive contribution to increasing efficiency and reducing costs in various industries in the future.