Papers
13
Total Citations
181
H-Index
8
About
Marc Behl is a materials scientist and polymer researcher whose work sits at the intersection of smart materials, soft robotics, and biomimicry. Based at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Behl has made significant contributions to the development of stimuli-responsive polymers and shape-memory materials, with particular emphasis on translating biological principles into functional engineering systems. His most-cited work draws inspiration from climbing plants — such as cacti and tendrils — to design 3D-printed hydrogel-elastomer soft robotic systems and coiling actuators that replicate sophisticated plant movements, earning over 50 and 21 citations respectively. Behl has also advanced high-throughput and combinatorial methods for polymer library development, enabling accelerated discovery of multifunctional materials, a contribution recognized with 38 citations. His research into electrically and magnetically triggered polymer fiber actuators has opened new pathways for artificial muscles and origami-inspired robotic hands. Across his portfolio, Behl consistently bridges fundamental polymer chemistry — including multiblock copolymer synthesis and infrared characterization techniques — with applied robotics and 4D printing. His body of work reflects a coherent research vision: engineering materials that move, adapt, and respond, much like the biological systems that inspire them.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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- 74D-actuators by 3D-printing combined with water-based curing9 citations · 2021
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