Research Groups

Research Groups

Dynamics at Electrocatalytic Interfaces
Group Leader: Dr. Arno Bergmann
Our goal is to contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the solid liquid interface under electrocatalytic conditions relevant for electrochemical energy conversion of CO2 and NO3- as well as H2 production. Our research aims at bridging the gap between the surface science approach and applied electrolyzer research by performing (time-resolved) operando investigations on nanoparticle model catalysts. more
Interfacial Ionics
Group Leader: Dr. Sebastian Oener
Interfacial Ionic processes are everywhere. Consider water dissociation (WD), H2O → H+ + OH-, which is required for every proton-coupled reaction in bio- and electrochemistry at alkaline to neutral pH (i.e. where the H+ comes from H2O). Despite its importance, WD is poorly understood and limits the efficiency of key energy technologies - in particular of water electrolysis generating green hydrogen and bipolar membranes producing acid and base solutions from green electricity. more
Electrode-Electrolyte Interfaces - Minerva Fast-Track Group
Group Leader: Dr. Mariana Monteiro
In electrocatalysis, the electrolyte is normally used to conduct charge between the two electrodes in which reactions are taking place. The cations and anions present in this conductive media, are however not just mere spectators. These species can strongly impact reaction activity, selectivity and even catalyst stability. more
Liquid Phase Electron Microscopy
Group Leader: Dr. See Wee Chee
Our research aims to derive critical structure-property relationships that control the performance of nanoscale electrocatalysts through in situ characterization with electron microscopy and its associated spectroscopic techniques. In particular, we are interested in operando studies where the imaging of catalysts in liquid environments is coupled with concurrent measurements of their reaction kinetics. more
Operando Hard X-ray Spectroscopy
Group Leader: Dr. Janis Timoshenko
Synchrotron radiation facilities are powerful X-ray sources that can be employed for numerous experimental techniques, including X-ray spectroscopic, scattering and imaging methods. The features of synchrotron radiation - high intensity and broad energy spectrum - make these sources ideally suited for in situ and operando investigations of advanced materials. more
Photo-Electrochemical Scanning Probe Microscopy
Helmholtz Young Investigator Research Group
Group Leader: Dr. Christopher Kley
Our research group focuses on material synthesis and nanoscale understanding of solid-liquid interfaces for applications in catalysis and energy conversion. Key catalytic reactions, including CO2 conversion, are challenged by the degradation of the materials employed under operation conditions, performance-limiting inefficiencies at catalyst-electrode interfaces, and limited selectivity and efficiency of the catalysts for multi-electron and proton-coupled transformations. more
Scanning Probe Microscopy
Group Leader: Dr. Markus Heyde
Our research is focused on high resolution imaging and spectroscopic characterization to significantly improve our understanding of surface structure and chemistry of complex materials. The main experimental tools are low temperature ultra-high vacuum non-contact atomic force and scanning tunneling microscopy. They allow us to characterize surface structures ranging from periodic and ordered surfaces to more defective morphologies and amorphous networks. more
Spectro-Microscopy
Group Leader: Dr. Thomas Schmidt
Our investigations focus on the preparation and modification of thin oxide films on metal supports and metal nanoparticles on oxides and on the structural, electronic and chemical properties of these systems for thermal catalysis. The experiments are performed with the high resolution spectro-microscope SMART (Spectro-Microscope with Aberration Correction for many relevant Techniques) operating at the BESSY II electron storage ring. more
Structure and Reactivity
Group Leader: Dr. Shamil Shaikhutdinov
We study surface chemistry of oxide-supported metal and transition metal oxide nanoparticles focusing on the effect of the particle size, shape and the nature of oxide support on reactivity, particularly in CO2 hydrogenation reactions. more
Thin Films
Group Leader: Dr. Helmut Kuhlenbeck
The activities of the group are centered around thin film catalyst models. Such models mimic relevant aspects of a real world catalysts, but have a reduced complexity. That allows us to understand catalytic processes in detail. Central activities of the group are the development of thin film preparation recipes and the study of thermal and electrocatalytic reactions at the thin film / gas or liquid interfaces. more
Metal-Organic Interfaces (MOIN) - Emmy Noether Group
Group Leader: Dr. Juan J. Navarro
Inspired by supramolecular and polymer chemistry in solution, the surface science community has developed in the last decades a variety of strategies to form organic assemblies and two-dimensional covalent layers on well-defined flat solid surfaces. This approach is today known under the name of on-surface synthesis. more
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