The Fritz Haber Institute welcomes Prof. Dr. Rodney D. L. Smith for a research stay funded by the AvH
The Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society is honored to announce that Prof. Dr. Rodney D. L. Smith, a Professor of Chemistry from the University of Waterloo, will be joining the Interface Science Department for a six-month research engagement starting in September. This prestigious visit is made possible through the generous sponsorship of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.
Prof. Dr. Beatriz Roldán Cuenya, Director of the Interface Science Department, will host Prof. Dr. Smith, whose research interests span the advancement of operando spectroscopic techniques and related data analysis for the understanding of defects and dynamic processes in solid-state materials in order to stablish structure-property correlations. Prof. Smith's academic journey is marked by significant achievements, including a PhD from Memorial University of Newfoundland, focusing on the fabrication and characterization of chemically modified electrodes. His postdoctoral work further expanded into the development of fabrication protocols for amorphous metal oxides and their application to electrocatalysis, as well as the analysis of electrocatalytic performance in disordered solid-state materials.
During his stay at the Fritz Haber Institute, Prof. Smith will embark on a project aimed at advancing our understanding of the fine structural differences in Ni1-xFex(OH)2 materials. This research will explore how variations in synthetic protocols and composition affect these materials, linking fine structural information with electrocatalytic performance descriptors. The project promises to improve our understanding of which structural features of layered double hydroxides are critical to electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction (OER), offering the scientific community a more accurate and detailed perspective on the structure of this important class of catalysts used for the generation of green hydrogen via water splitting. Furthermore, this work will contribute to the advancement of Diffraction Anomalous Fine Structure (DAFS) analyses, promoting its wider adoption within the scientific community.
In addition to his research, Prof. Smith will establish a collaboration with two groups from the Interface Science Department, led by Dr. Janis Timoshenko and Dr. Arno Bergmann
The Fritz Haber Institute is thrilled to support Prof. Smith's research, which aligns with our commitment to fostering scientific excellence and innovation, including the development of advancd materials characterization methods. His expertise and groundbreaking work are expected to yield significant advancements in the field of solid-state materials and catalysis, reinforcing the institute's position at the forefront of this scientific research arena.
Alexander-von-Humboldt significance and figures
The Alexander-von-Humboldt Foundation is known for its commitment to promoting international scientific cooperation. Established in 1860, the foundation has been fundamental in fostering connections between researchers across the World and supporting academic exchange.
In 2023, the Foundation preserved an interdisciplinary network of over 30.000 Humboldtians across 140 countries in the World. Among those, 61 have been awarded a Nobel Prize.
Between 2018 and 2022, a total of 4,690 and 1,790 research stays were sponsored in Germany at universities and at non-university research institutions, respectively. In the last Humboldt Rankings from 2023, Max Planck institutes head the list of non-university research institutions, with the Fritz Haber Institute in Berlin leading. The Fritz Haber Institute hosted a total of 68 researchers in the years from 2016 to 2022.
