Prof. Dr. Patrick Huber, spokesperson for the new Cluster of Excellence “BlueMat: Water-Driven Materials” at TU Hamburg, began by placing the topic in its historical context, starting with the first industrial revolution in 1776, which was shaped by James Watt's steam engine, and drawing a line to the upcoming “blue” materials revolution in 2026. The research initiative aims to rethink water as an integral part of so-called “blue materials”—sustainable, interactive functional materials whose properties result from the interaction of water with multiscale structures.

A central feature of this new class of water-driven materials is their hierarchical structure: from metallic, silicon, and ceramic nanostructures to macroscopically visible, 3D-printed porous architectures—inspired by natural models such as trees. These structures enable extraordinary functions such as water-driven mechanical deformation, capillary-driven water transport, and moisture-dependent coloring. At the same time, new challenges arise, such as extreme mechanical stresses or the handling of liquid volumes in the yottolitre range (10⁻²⁴ liters).

BlueMat addresses four key material domains:

1. Mechanical materials (e.g., for acoustics or actuators)
2. Fluid transport materials (with targeted control of water absorption and evaporation)
3. Photonic materials (e.g., for customized permittivity and light scattering)
4. Energy materials (e.g., for the use of hydrogen or for novel charging processes)

A particular highlight of the presentation was the introduction of so-called hydrovoltaics: a technology that generates electrical energy from evaporating water—for example, from the waste heat of a data center. Visions such as transparent liquid glass displays that can be written on with a laser, or artificial trees that could transport water upwards without a mechanical pump, were also presented – always with the aim of making biological principles technically usable and going beyond them.

The webinar offered an inspiring insight into a visionary field of research that reinterprets water as a working medium for functional materials. The DGM would like to thank all participants for their interest and looks forward to further discussion and networking on the topic of BlueMat.