Johannes L. Hörmann

Nagoya University

Graduate School of Informatics

Department of Complex Systems Science

Room 618

Furocho, Chikusa Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 464-8601

Japan

Computational tribologist developing multiscale simulation methods and FAIR data infrastructure for the rational, data-driven design of molecular lubricants. Research interests span molecular dynamics (MD) of surfactant and polymer adsorption films, electrotunable lubrication, and multiscale friction modeling.

Current research at Nagoya University focuses on:

Sequence-dependent friction of polyalkylmethacrylate (PAMA) copolymers — all-atom MD to predict how block vs. statistical architecture controls the behavior of single polymers under shear.
Coarse-graining of polyalkylmethacrylate (PAMA) copolymers — coarse-grained MD to predict how block vs. statistical architecture controls the lubrication performance of fully formulated PAMA adsorption films.
Chain length-dependent friction of phospholipid adsorption films — all-atom MD to predict how DSPC and DLPC chain length controls behavior under indentation and sliding.

Earlier work includes:

All-atom MD of SDS surfactant film friction across concentration, morphology, load, and sliding direction — the first high-dimensional parametric friction map of an aqueous surfactant system J. Chem. Phys. 158, 244703 (2023).
Electrotunable lubrication: MD evidence for potential-driven friction asymmetry at gold electrodes Tribol. Lett. 69, 22 (2021).
FEM modeling of the electrochemical double layer at rough electrode surfaces: continuum Poisson–Nernst-Planck simulations relating surface topography to local reactant concentrations Mater. Horiz. (2026).
Co-developed dtool & dserver — lightweight FAIR research data management PLOS ONE 19, e0306100 (2024).

Currently serving as Specially Appointed Assistant Professor in the Zhang lab, Department of Complex Systems Science, Graduate School of Informatics, Nagoya University.

selected publications

Friction-Assisted Electrochemical Oxidation of Iridium Surfaces for Enhanced Catalysis

Chenxu Liu, Johannes L. Hörmann, Hao Pan, and 7 more authors

Materials Horizons, 2026

Ahead of print

DOI
Molecular simulations of sliding on SDS surfactant films

Johannes L. Hörmann, Chenxu (刘宸旭) Liu, Yonggang (孟永钢) Meng, and 1 more author

The Journal of Chemical Physics, Jun 2023

Abs DOI

We use molecular dynamics simulations to study the frictional response of monolayers of the anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate and hemicylindrical aggregates physisorbed on gold. Our simulations of a sliding spherical asperity reveal the following two friction regimes: at low loads, the films show Amonton’s friction with a friction force that rises linearly with normal load, and at high loads, the friction force is independent of the load as long as no direct solid–solid contact occurs. The transition between these two regimes happens when a single molecular layer is confined in the gap between the sliding bodies. The friction force at high loads on a monolayer rises monotonically with film density and drops slightly with the transition to hemicylindrical aggregates. This monotonous increase of friction force is compatible with a traditional plowing model of sliding friction. At low loads, the friction coefficient reaches a minimum at the intermediate surface concentrations. We attribute this behavior to a competition between adhesive forces, repulsion of the compressed film, and the onset of plowing.
dtool and dserver: A flexible ecosystem for findable data

Johannes L. Hörmann, Luis Yanes, Ashwin Vazhappilly, and 5 more authors

PLOS ONE, Jun 2024

Abs DOI

Making data FAIR—findable, accessible, interoperable, reproducible—has become the recurring theme behind many research data management efforts. dtool is a lightweight data management tool that packages metadata with immutable data to promote accessibility, interoperability, and reproducibility. Each dataset is self-contained and does not require metadata to be stored in a centralised system. This decentralised approach means that finding datasets can be difficult. dtool’s lookup server, short dserver, as defined by a REST API, makes dtool datasets findable, hence rendering the dtool ecosystem fit for a FAIR data management world. Its simplicity, modularity, accessibility and standardisation via API distinguish dtool and dserver from other solutions and enable it to serve as a common denominator for cross-disciplinary research data management. The dtool ecosystem bridges the gap between standardisation-free data management by individuals and FAIR platform solutions with rigid metadata requirements.