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A newly founded company from Kiel University is bringing a material to market that is almost entirely made of air—and can be controlled electrically.
With a material that consists of more than 99.9% air, the startup AERO MATERIALS aims to optimize technical motion systems and pneumatic applications. The ultra-light material was developed over a decade at Kiel University in Professor Rainer Adelung’s research group. Now, the team is taking the nanostructure from the lab to the market. Since September 2025, AERO MATERIALS GmbH has been operating as an independent company.
“Our aero materials are so light that you can barely feel them in your hand,” says Rainer Adelung, Professor of Materials Science at Kiel University. “At the same time, they are so functional that they can replace entire systems. For many applications, this is a real game-changer.”
The innovative material opens up four key application areas: actuation for fast, precise, and energy-efficient movements; filtration, where the conductive, open-pored structures allow for self-cleaning filters; optics, where the material can direct and scatter light, enabling highly energy-efficient lighting solutions; and electromagnetic shielding for sensitive electronics—such as drones or other mobile devices where every gram counts.
A Scaffold Almost Entirely Made of Air
Aero materials are based on tetrapodal zinc oxide (t-ZnO) structures – tiny particles shaped like four-armed stars. Researchers form this basic structure into a three-dimensional scaffold and infiltrate it with a mixture of water and graphene – a single layer of carbon atoms – or with silicate, the main component of glass. The zinc oxide is then chemically removed. What remains are hollow tubes with ultrathin nanometer-scale walls, forming an open network of pure graphene sheets or glass structures with extremely low density – almost entirely air. The open-pored structure remains intact, allowing air and liquids to flow through freely.
Fast, Precise, and Energy-Efficient Movements
The team’s first market focus is actuation, such as components that convert electrical signals into mechanical motion. In micro-pneumatics, where tiny airflows are used to move machine parts with precision, the nanomaterial comes into play: graphene is extremely light, conductive, and stable. When an electric current passes through the structure, it heats up within milliseconds. The trapped air expands, generating mechanical force – capable of cutting, moving, or switching automated systems. A material weighing just a few milligrams can lift up to 2 kilograms.
Unlike conventional pneumatic systems, this technology requires no external compressor. Actuation is generated directly within the material. Be without hoses, valves, or complex infrastructure. “This reduces maintenance and allows for particularly compact, flexible designs – perfect for robotic applications,” says Caprice Mohr, Technical Managing Director and master’s student in Rainer Adelung’s group. For the developers, this is an energy-efficient and sustainable alternative to traditional solutions.
Successful Initial Tests
In cooperation with industry partners, the team also tested the material in other areas, such as speaker membranes. The structure vibrates when electrically actuated – similar to conventional membranes but with far less mass – covering the full audible frequency range while responding quickly and precisely.
In filtration, the material also offers advantages: dust and dirt particles accumulating on the conductive structure can be easily burned off. A prototype for self-cleaning filters has successfully passed a test in an aircraft.
Spinoff from the “Functional Nanomaterials” Research Group
Between 2015 and 2025, several patents were granted, held by Kiel University. With initial funding secured, the team is now focusing on pilot customers and scaling up production. The spinoff was supported by the university’s Technology Transfer Office, particularly regarding intellectual property rights.
AERO MATERIALS is led by Caprice Mohr, currently a master’s student at Kiel University and Technical Managing Director, and Niklas Dreiskämper as Commercial Managing Director for Business Operations. The technical team includes colleagues from Rainer Adelung’s research group. The spinoff was made possible by an investor group including Kai Kruse and Dr. Jörg Haupt. The startup is located adjacent to the Faculty of Engineering and uses the university’s research infrastructure, with Rainer Adelung serving on the advisory board.
Professor Rainer Adelung
Head of the Functional Nanomaterials Chair, Institute for Materials Science
ra@tf.uni-kiel.de
+49 431 880 6116
Caprice Mohr
Technical Managing Director, AERO MATERIALS GmbH
cm@aero-materials.com
+49 431 3630 1956
https://aero-materials.com/
https://www.uni-kiel.de/en/tf/research/institute-materials-science/functional-na...
https://www.geschaeftsbereich-transfer.uni-kiel.de/en/technology-transfer?set_la...
https://www.uni-kiel.de/en/details/news/248-aerographen
Raster electron micrograph: Initial t-ZnO tetrapod structure coated with nanometer-thin graphene lay ...
Copyright: Funktionale Nanomaterialien, Dr. Florian Rasch
Co-founder Caprice Mohr, master’s student at Kiel University.
Copyright: © Christina Anders, Uni Kiel
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Business and commerce, Journalists
Materials sciences
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Transfer of Science or Research
English
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