Sustainability

Research Group Prof. Dr. Tobias Beck

The research group of Prof. Tobias Beck is based at the Institute of Physical Chemistry and is also affiliated with the Institute of Inorganic and Applied Chemistry.

The Beck Group develops and characterizes novel biohybrid materials composed of proteins and nanoparticles. These materials have potential applications in fields such as optics and biomedical research—for example, in dialysis. The research is highly interdisciplinary and combines various areas, including nanoparticle synthesis, protein design, protein production and modification, as well as advanced characterization techniques using synchrotron radiation.

In the development of functional materials, sustainability is becoming increasingly important alongside functionality. A key goal is to use building blocks derived from renewable sources. In addition, the materials should be designed with application-specific durability in mind so that they can later be recovered and reused in a resource-efficient manner. In this context, protein nanocages offer a promising route as sustainable building blocks for the next generation of biohybrid nanomaterials: Proteins as Sustainable Building Blocks for the Next Generation of Bioinorganic Nanomaterials.

Beyond these scientific goals, the group also maintains a continuous focus on the responsible use of resources such as chemicals and energy, with the aim of conducting sustainable research and reducing the consumption of lab materials.