Nanofibres are fibres with a diameter that is 1000 times smaller than a human hair. This makes nanofibrous membranes very light and porous, ideally suited for advanced engineering applications in various sectors. By adding a specific functionality (for example hydrophobic groups, amines, thiol functions), the application field can even be extended. However, the material choice and design are crucial for optimal performance. Therefore, several bridged organosilanes, hybrid structures with organic and inorganic moieties, will be studied as an alternative starting product to make such nanofibrous membranes within this project. They allow for highly flexible materials with superior chemical and thermal stability for which, moreover, the hydrophobicity can be tuned. These functionalised nanofibers will be processed from water and ethanol, which is ecologically more friendly than most current nanofiber and membrane production techniques. Applications in the field of water purification and chemical conversion are targeted. These
applications require long-term stable materials and make use of the large specific surface area, high porosity and/or large pores of the nanofibrous membranes to target more efficient processes.