Departments

Inorganic
Chemistry
Beatriz Roldan Cuenya
Interim
Interface
Science
Beatriz Roldan Cuenya
Molecular
Physics
Gerard Meijer
Physical
Chemistry
Martin Wolf
Theory
 
Karsten Reuter

Science News

Schematic depiction of the chemical and morphological transformations that the catalyst undergoes when temperature is changed.
With the aim to precisely understand its function, researchers from the Inorganic Chemistry Department and Interface Science Department of the Fritz Haber Institute, together with colleagues from the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion investigated the Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalyst system used for industrial methanol production during reaction conditions. They found that the dynamic, temperature-sensitive nature of the Cu-ZnO interaction is the key to its function – opening up new avenues for rationally improving this process.
Schematic Depiction of the workflow of the Catalysis App
Researchers in the Inorganic Chemistry Department at the Fritz Haber Institute, together with partners in the National Research Data Infrastructure project FAIRmat, have developed a repository for standardized experimental catalysis data. The platform enables reliable data sharing and provides a strong foundation for artificial-intelligence-driven analysis.
Not Just Faster but Smarter: AI That Explains Its Discoveries
Self-driving laboratories (SDLs) powered by artificial intelligence (AI) are rapidly accelerating materials discovery, but can they also explain their results? Researchers from the Theory Department of the Fritz Haber Insitute, in collaboration with BASF, and BasCat – UniCat BASF JointLab, show that they can. Their new AI-driven strategy works hand-in-hand with SDLs to identify better catalysts while revealing the chemistry behind their performance. The approach was validated on the industrially crucial conversion of propane into propylene.

Institute News

Juan Ignacio Entrecanales, President of the SGE, presents the Research Award to Beatriz Roldán
The “Premio Investigación” (Research Award) is annually presented to outstanding scientists in any field whose work is having a global impact extending further from their own scientific discipline. For the year 2025, the prestigious award goes to Prof. Dr. Beatriz Roldan Cuenya, director of the Department of Interface Science at the Fritz Haber Institute, whose groundbreaking research on catalysts for renewable energy-based applications is making a contribution to reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
Prof. Dr. Melanie Müller
Prof. Dr. Melanie Müller, head of the “Ultrafast Scanning Probe Microscopy” research group in the Department of Physical Chemistry at the Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society, has taken up a new professorship for experimental condensed matter physics at the University of Bonn, as of April 1, 2026.
PhD students at a lecture of the block course
At this year’s spring block course of the IMPRS-EPPC doctoral program, the PhD students received a hands-on training in the fundamentals of machine learning and lab automation. The workshops took place at the Fritz Haber Institute from March 23 to 26, 2026.
Dr. Haobo Li
Led by Dr. Haobo Li, a new Max Planck Partner Group within the Theoretical Department of the Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society is being established at the School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. This initiative supports the groundbreaking research of this exceptional young scientist in catalysis and sustainable energy, while further deepening her close collaboration with the Fritz Haber Institute. The Fritz Haber Institute and the Max Planck Society will support Dr. Li in developing her Max Planck Partner Group into a dynamic hub within both the Singaporean and international scientific communities.

Current Information

Open Positions

Further job positions can be found also here.

Upcoming Events

Towards an Enhanced Understanding of Charge Transport and Charge Transfer Processes in Rechargeable Batteries

TH Department Seminar
Apr 29, 2026 02:30 PM (Local Time Germany)
https://zoom.us/j/93470061101?pwd=bK16QwmMZwCKUwptxkeu9FrHBx1xhS.1, Room: Meeting ID: 934 7006 1101 | Passcode: 752784

Materials Innovation and Operando Characterization in Na-Ion Batteries

TH Department Seminar
Apr 30, 2026 02:00 PM (Local Time Germany)
https://zoom.us/j/96795549915?pwd=GimuyXKCyGLByx5r03mgpx05b8KwWR.1, Room: Meeting ID: 967 9554 9915 | Passcode: 904639

Reactivity, Ionic Structure, and Solvation at The Air-Water Interface

PC Special Seminar
May 7, 2026 11:00 AM (Local Time Germany)
Building G, Room: 2.06

TH-Seminar: Prof. Robert Meissner

TH Department Seminar
May 7, 2026 02:00 PM (Local Time Germany)
Building M, Richard-Willstätter-Haus, Faradayweg 10, 14195 Berlin, Room: Seminar Room
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