Research

Catalysis with Metals Group

Our group focuses on thermal catalysis on metal systems, with a particular interest in structure–function relationships under reaction conditions.
Since December 2021, we have been actively involved in CatLab, a collaborative initiative between the Fritz Haber Institute (Departments of AC, ISC, and Theory) and the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) (PVcomB, EMIL facilities).
As part of CatLab, we have pioneered the development of Laterally Condensed Catalysts (LCC) — a novel class of two-dimensional, thin-film (few-nanometer) catalysts. These systems are fabricated using technologies traditionally applied in fields such as photovoltaic (PV) cells and flat-panel displays, introducing innovative fabrication strategies into catalysis research.
The LCC approach bridges the long-standing materials gap between industrial powder catalysts and model single crystals, enabling detailed mechanistic investigations under realistic reaction conditions. Thanks to a unified sample architecture, we carry out operando measurements and advanced spectro-microscopy (in collaboration with other research groups), including the analysis of buried interfaces — all within the same sample.
Our research focuses on the spatiotemporal evolution of the electronic and geometric properties of catalysts during hydrogenation reactions, with particular emphasis on acetylene and CO₂ hydrogenation.