Interface Science Department

Interface Science Department

Our department investigates the unique structural, electronic, vibrational and chemical properties of size- and shape-selected nanostructures and thin films and their interfaces with gas and liquid environments.

Understanding the interplay between the numerous factors determining the physico-chemical behavior of such systems is crucial for optimizing their efficiency for applications in catalysis and more specifically in energy conversion. To this end, advanced synthesis methods and in situ / operando surface/bulk-sensitive characterization techniques are being employed in our department for the fundamental understanding of catalysts “at work”.

Comparative Study of Co3O4(111), CoFe2O4(111) and Fe3O4(111)

Comparative Study of Co3O4(111), CoFe2O4(111) and Fe3O4(111)


E. M. Davis, A. Bergmann, C. Zhan, H. Kuhlenbeck, B. Roldan Cuenya, Nature Comm. 14, 4791 (2023).

Unraveling surface structures of Ga-promoted transition metal catalysts in CO2 hydrogenation

Unraveling surface structures of Ga-promoted transition metal catalysts in CO2 hydrogenation


S. W. Lee, M. Lopez-Luna, N. Berdunov, W. Wan, S. Kunze, S. Shaikhutdinov, B. Roldan Cuenya, Nature Comm. 14, 4649 (2023).

Atomic-scale Surface Restructuring of Copper Electrodes Under CO2 Electroreduction Conditions

Atomic-scale Surface Restructuring of Copper Electrodes Under CO2 Electroreduction Conditions


R. Amirbeigiarab, J. Tian, A. Herzog, C. Qiu, A. Bergmann, B. Roldan Cuenya, O.M. Magnussen, Nature Catalysis 6, 337, (2023).

Nanoscale electron transfer variations at electrocatalyst-electrolyte interfaces resolved by in situ conductive atomic force microscopy
 

Nanoscale electron transfer variations at electrocatalyst-electrolyte interfaces resolved by in situ conductive atomic force microscopy  

M. Munz, J. Poon, W. Frandsen, B. Roldan Cuenya, C.S. Kley, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 145, 5242 (2023).

Size effects and active state formation of cobalt oxide nanoparticles during the oxygen evolution reaction

Size effects and active state formation of cobalt oxide nanoparticles during the oxygen evolution reaction

F. T. Haase, A. Bergmann, T. E. Jones, J. Timoshenko, A. Herzog, H. S. Jeon, C. Rettenmaeier, B. Roldan Cuenya, Nature Energy 7, 765 (2022).

Steering the structure and selectivity of electrocatalysts by potential pulses
 

Steering the structure and selectivity of electrocatalysts by potential pulses  

J. Timoshenko, A. Bergmann, C. Rettenmaier, A. Herzog, O. Magnussen, B. Roldan Cuenya et al. Nature Catal. 2, 259 (2022).

Operando high-pressure investigation of size-controlled CuZn catalysts for the methanol synthesis reaction

Operando high-pressure investigation of size-controlled CuZn catalysts for the methanol synthesis reaction

N. J. Divins, D. Kordus, J. Timoshenko, B. Roldan Cuenya et al. Nature Comm. 12, 1435 (2021).

Potential‐dependent morphology of copper catalysts during CO2 electroreduction revealed by in situ AFM
 

Potential‐dependent morphology of copper catalysts during CO2 electroreduction revealed by in situ AFM  

G. H. Simon, C. S. Kley, B. Roldan Cuenya, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 59, 2561 (2021).

In situ/operando electrocatalyst characterization by X-ray absorption spectroscopy
 

In situ/operando electrocatalyst characterization by X-ray absorption spectroscopy

 

 J. Timoshenko, B. Roldan Cuenya, Chem. Rev. 49, 6884 (2020).

The role of in situ generated morphological motifs and Cu(I) species in C2+ product selectivity during CO2 pulsed electroreduction

The role of in situ generated morphological motifs and Cu(I) species in C2+ product selectivity during CO2 pulsed electroreduction

R. M. Arán-Ais, F. Scholten, S. Kunze, R. Rizo, B. Roldan Cuenya, Nature Energy 5, 317 (2020).

Dynamic transformation of cubic copper catalysts during CO2 electroreduction and its impact on selectivity

Dynamic transformation of cubic copper catalysts during CO2 electroreduction and its impact on selectivity


P Grosse, A. Yoon, C. Rettenmaier, A. Herzog, S. W. Chee, B. Roldan Cuenya,  Nature Commun. 12, 6736 (2021).

Imaging electrochemically synthesized Cu2O cubes and their subsequent evolution ...

Imaging electrochemically synthesized Cu2O cubes and their subsequent evolution ...

R. M. Arán-Ais, R. Rizo, P. Grosse, G. Algara Siller, K. Démbélé, M. Plodinec, T. Lunkenbein, S. W. Chee, B. Roldan Cuenya, Nature Commun. 11, 3489 (2020).

Shape-Controlled Nanoparticles as Anodic Catalysts in Low Temperature Fuel Cells

Shape-Controlled Nanoparticles as Anodic Catalysts in Low Temperature Fuel Cells

R. Rizo, B. Roldan Cuenya
ACS Energy Lett. 4, 1484 (2019).

Dynamic Changes in the Structure, Chemical State and Catalytic Selectivity of Cu Nanocubes during CO2 Electroreduction

Dynamic Changes in the Structure, Chemical State and Catalytic Selectivity of Cu Nanocubes during CO2 Electroreduction


P. Grosse, D. Gao, F. Scholten, I. Sinev, H. Mistry, B. Roldan Cuenya, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 57, 6192 (2018).

Structure- and Electrolyte-Sensitivity in CO2 Electroreduction

Structure- and Electrolyte-Sensitivity in CO2 Electroreduction

R. M. Aran Ais, D. Gao, B. Roldan Cuenya, Acc. Chem. Res. 51, 2906 (2018).

Tailoring the Catalytic Properties of Metal Nanoparticles via Support Interactions

Tailoring the Catalytic Properties of Metal Nanoparticles via Support Interactions

M. Ahmadi, H. Mistry, B. Roldan Cuenya, J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 7, 3519 (2016).

ISC News

Prof. Dr. Beatriz Roldán Cuenya is one of the world's most cited scientists

This year, for the third consecutive time, Prof. Dr. Beatriz Roldán Cuenya, director of the Department of Interface Science at the Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society, has been recognized as one of the world's most cited scientists. more

Prof. Dr. Beatriz Roldán Cuenya honored with Manchot Research Professorship

Prof. Beatriz Roldán Cuenya was awarded the Manchot Research Professorship, becoming the first woman to receive this prestigious honor. The award is presented annually by the Jürgen Manchot Foundation to outstanding scientists. In addition to recognizing her exceptional scientific contributions, the foundation provides the opportunity for the award winner to teach at the Chemistry Faculty of the Technical University of Munich. more

Doctorate for David Kordus

Doctorate for David Kordus

October 04, 2023

Today, David Kordus defended his doctoral thesis at Ruhr-Universität Bochum. He carried out research on structure and chemical state of catalysts for hydrogenation of carbon dioxide. more

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Upcoming Events

Molecular Simulation in the Age of AI

  • ISC and TH Seminar
  • Date: Dec 13, 2023
  • Time: 02:00 PM - 03:30 PM (Local Time Germany)
  • Speaker: Dr. Edward Pyzer-Knapp
  • Head of Research Innovation for UK and Ireland at IBM, Visiting Professor of Industrially Applied AI at the University of Liverpool, and the Editor in Chief for Applied AI Letters.
  • Location: FHI library (building A)
  • Host: ISC and TH Department
The history of chemical discovery has been punctuated by computational and theoretical developments. Evolving from empirical observation, increasingly systematised experimentation allowed for the development of theoretical underpinnings, which in turn afforded the paradigm shifting application of computational techniques, which has since co-evolved with the development of the technologies upon which they are run. Recent years have seen the emergence of data-driven techniques and technologies for building powerful models, appearing to enable us to side-step the requirement for expensive physical simulations – replacing them with highly performant, but black-box alternatives. [more]

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