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”.

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

Electrocatalysis under the atomic force microscope

A further development in atomic force microscopy now makes it possible to simultaneously image the height profile of nanometre-fine structures as well as the electric current and the frictional force at solid-liquid interfaces. A team from the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) and the Fritz Haber Institute (FHI) of the Max Planck Society has succeeded in analysing electrocatalytically active materials and gaining insights that will help optimise catalysts. The method is also potentially suitable for studying processes on battery electrodes, in photocatalysis or on active biomaterials. more

Dr. Mariana Monteiro receives a Minerva Fast-Track Fellowship

Dr. Mariana Monteiro was awarded a Minerva Fast Track position by the Max Planck Society to establish her first research group “Electrode-electrolyte interfaces” at the Interface Science Department of the Fritz Haber Institute in Berlin. This electrochemist was selected for her excellent research in electrocatalysis, and her new group will focus on fundamentally understanding the electrochemical interface of earth-abundant electrocatalysts.
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European Research Council (ERC) has awarded a Starting Grant of 1.75 million Euros to Dr. Sebastian Öner

The European Research Council (ERC) has awarded a Starting Grant of 1.75 million Euros to Dr. Sebastian Öner, group leader at the Interface Science Department of the Fritz Haber Institute. Dr. Öner’s research aims at sensing and controlling ions at liquid-solid and vapor-solid interfaces that are broadly relevant across many scientific domains, including electro-, thermal- and biochemistry. With the ERC grant ORION, Dr. Öner’s group will develop a new electrochemical scanning probe microscopy that enables spatial control over the free energy of interfacial ions, such as protons (H+) and hydroxide ions (OH-) during interfacial water dissociation (H2O-> H+ + OH-).
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