Professor Mahesh Tirumkudulu from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT Bombay) visits the Thin Film Technology Group at KIT

June 2026, Karlsruhe

Mahesh Tirumkudulu, Professor and Head of the Department of Chemical Engineering at Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, visited the TFT Group at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in June.

During his visit, Professor Tirumkudulu delivered an outstanding lecture on the fundamentals of crack formation. As one of the world's leading experts in this field, he provided a comprehensive overview of the key scientific concepts, landmark publications, and fundamental equations that have shaped current understanding of crack formation. Many of these influential contributions originate from his own research group at IIT Bombay and from his long-standing collaborators at the University of Cambridge.

The lecture stimulated lively discussions and provided valuable insights for researchers and students of the TFT Group.

Beyond its many classical applications, the topic of crack formation has gained renewed importance in the development of thin films for emerging energy technologies. In particular, crack formation during the drying of battery electrodes and catalyst-coated membranes (CCMs) for PEM hydrogen applications plays a crucial role in determining the performance, reliability, and durability of these systems.

It was a great pleasure to host Professor Mahesh Tirumkudulu at the Heinrich Hertz Guest House on the South Campus of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. Conveniently located next to the Karlsruhe Castle Gardens and within walking distance of our TFT offices and laboratories at the Material Center for Energy Research (MZE), the guest house provided an ideal setting for scientific exchange and collaboration during his visit.