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May 20-21, 2019 | Vienna, Austria
Biomaterials and Nanomaterials &
Materials Physics and Materials Science
2nd International Conference on
Page 20
Journal of Materials Science and Nanotechnology | Volume 3
Hinrich Grothe
Vienna University of Technology, Austria
Macromolecular biomaterials causing heterogeneous ice nucleation
Biological materials from plants, bacteria and fungi
are dispersed in the environment. This can be whole
organisms or just fragments. When these particles get
airborne, they are termed bioaerosols and are in the
size range between hundred nanometers and a few
micrometers. Here we present the particularity that
macromolecules from these bioaerosols can be washed
of in aqueous solution and that these macromolecules
can exist independently from the mother grain, e.g. in
water droplets or on the surface of dust particles. In
general, ice nucleation of bioaerosols is a topic of growing
interest, since their impact on ice cloud formation and
thus on radiative forcing, an important parameter in global
climate, is not yet fully understood. We have focused
on birch trees, which exhibit an elevated ice nucleation
activity and we proof the size of these molecules, their
stability against oxidation and their chemical origin.
Further we find evidence that these macromolecules can
be found on the whole surface of many parts of the tree
(pollen, leaves, primary and secondary wood) but with
different concentrations. An interesting point remains the
mechanisms of heterogeneous ice nucleation, in which
the biomaterials play a crucial role. Spectroscopy and
microscopy have been applied to solve these processes and
get a fundamental understanding of how ice nucleation in
trees is prevented or triggered, respectively. Obviously, this
is a survival mechanism on molecular level.
Speaker Biography
Hinrich Grothe is an associate professor with tenure in the Institute of
Materials Chemistry at TU Wien, Austria. He was trained in chemistry
at the Leibniz University of Hannover, Germany, where he earned
a PhD in low-temperature chemistry. His current research interests
involve understanding ice nucleation in clouds triggered by biological
particles such as pollen, bacteria, and fungi. He is also interested in
aerosol chemistry and cloud glaciation processes. He is an important
contributor to the European Geosciences Union (EGU) where he is
the science officer of the section Atmospheric Chemistry & Aerosols.
Each year, he organizes a session at the EGU General Assembly on
atmospheric ice nucleation. He has also organized several workshops
for early career professionals about the microphysics of ice clouds. His
goal is to find nature's perfect ice nucleus.
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