Prof. Dr. Enock Dare 

One of the most significant approaches to protecting surfaces from structural deterioration is

the application of protective coating. Unfortunately, the commonly used traditional surface

coating in the presence of exclusive chemically based system has been challenged, and

therefore the need for sustainable procedures leading to functional coatings possessing

“smart” attributes and multifunctional properties become a necessity. The proposed research

aims at taking advantages of three sustainable options (“click” chemistry, plasma-induced

surface modulation and biocompatible POSS) in a combined synergy to develop switchable,

reversible and adaptable coatings on substrates suitable for oil/water separation, personal

equipment based liquid and antimicrobial repellence, photo-responsive corrosion sensing and

repair, and photo-responsive pattern based information security. The sustainable options shall

be deployed to realize functionalized POSS nanomaterials that shall be plasma/photo-coated

on substrate, which shall be analysed (for properties) and evaluated (for applications) using the

state-of-the-art facilities at Fraunhofer IFAM, Bremen. My expectations shall be mutually

supported, while I deploy my experiences in “click” chemistry vis-à-vis POSS, I shall also

gainfully acquire new skills from Fraunhofer IFAM excellent facilities, which are not available in

my country, towards successfully sustainable functional coating research and development

outcomes.