The main research focus at the Institute of Polymer Research of the Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht is the development of membranes for liquid and gas phase separation. Due to the interdisciplinary integration of material sciences and engineering, our research covers the full spectrum from basic research to industrial applications. The latest equipment and methods for synthesis, characterization, and processing of polymers, membrane preparation, module development and design, as well as modeling of separation processes, substantiate our competence in the field of polymer science and membranes. 

Specifically, the synthesis and characterization of tailor-made polymers for membrane applications is in the foreground, while the use of state of the art methods for fabrication of membranes with outstanding separation performances (e.g., in separation of CO₂ in gas streams, or protein separation in liquid phase) is the challenge that our Institute deals with.