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About

Wolfgang Wenzel is a leading researcher at the intersection of advanced materials, 3D micro- and nanofabrication, and self-healing polymers. His work is defined by a drive to create programmable, living materials with unprecedented functionality. A major contribution is the development of **PEGgel**, a tough, transparent, and self-healing poly(ethylene glycol) gel that is also 3D-printable. This work, cited over 140 times, addresses a critical challenge in soft materials by combining mechanical robustness with dynamic healing, opening new avenues for biomedical devices and soft robotics. Wenzel further pushes the boundaries of fabrication by pioneering **covalent adaptable microstructures** through two-photon laser printing. By integrating dynamic alkoxyamine chemistry, he has created "living" 3D microstructures whose mechanical properties can be adapted on demand—a breakthrough for microfluidics and adaptive optics. Most recently, his team has leveraged machine-learning-driven robotic synthesis to fabricate high-quality MOF thin films, discovering a **Dirac-cone induced metallic conductivity** in Cu₃(HHTP)₂. This achievement points toward a new class of highly conductive, metallic MOFs, demonstrating Wenzel’s unique ability to combine computational design, automation, and materials chemistry to create next-generation functional materials.