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How can Surface Morphology Change Selectivity in Electrocatalysis?

June 17, 2024

The Theory Department of the Fritz Haber Institute calls attention to catalyst morphology as a key factor in determining what product is being formed during an electrocatalytic reaction. The analysis, published in Nature Catalysis, explores how the ‘roughness’ of a catalyst surface changes the selectivity for a number of technologically important reactions, including the electrochemical conversion of CO₂ into fuels and H₂O formation in fuel-cells. The results offer a new perspective on how catalyst design could optimize electrochemical processes, while challenging the traditional picture that focuses entirely on the nature of the active site at the atomic level.

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New Study Explores Magnesium's Interaction with ATP in Water

June 14, 2024

A recent study published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society presents an in-depth analysis of how ATP (adenosine triphosphate) in aqueous solutions interacts with magnesium ions. Conducted by researchers from the Department of Molecular Physics at the Fritz Haber Institute, in collaboration with the University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Southern California, the paper titled "How Does Mg²⁺_(aq) Interact with ATP_(aq)? Biomolecular Structure through the Lens of Liquid-Jet Photoemission Spectroscopy" introduces Liquid-Jet Photoemission Spectroscopy (LJ-PES) as a method for probing the electronic structure of this biomolecule in a complex aqueous-solution environment.

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Fast Learning Collaboration with BasCat leads to Discovery of a New Catalytic Promoter on Par with Decades of Study

May 30, 2024

Addressing climate change demands rethinking of established chemical processes on a timescale of years rather than decades as in traditional R&D cycles. In collaboration with BasCat (UniCat BASF JointLab), a team of researchers from the Theory Department at the Fritz Haber Institute developed an accelerated discovery approach to identify a promising catalytic promoter formulation for the conversion of propane into the base chemical propylene. Discovered in a few weeks and with fewer than 100 experiments conducted, the novel promoted catalyst rivals those discovered through decades of research. The findings, published in ACS Catalysis, not only highlight the partnership's success but also open avenues for a more efficient and informed development of multi-promoter formulations.

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Institute News

Dr. Hanna Türk is awarded the prestigious Otto Hahn Medal

June 13, 2024

The Fritz Haber Institute is pleased to announce that Dr. Hanna Türk has been awarded the Otto Hahn Medal for her ground-breaking work elucidating the atomic-scale degradation mechanism of working interfaces in solid oxide electrolyzers.

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A Year Full of Discoveries: Our First Voluntary Social Year in Science, Technology, and Sustainability

June 07, 2024

Last year, the Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society offered for the first time a Voluntary Social Year in Science, Technology, and Sustainability (FJN). In cooperation with the International Youth Community Service (ijgd), we provided young adults with the opportunity to gain practical experience in the natural sciences while also orienting themselves professionally.

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Constitution Day: A Celebration of Research Freedom and Democratic Participation

May 23, 2024

The Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society also celebrates today the birthday of our Basic Law, a document that has enshrined the freedom of art, science, research, and teaching as fundamental pillars of our society since May 23, 1949.

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Spring Reception 2024: A Day Full of Inspiration and Community

May 17, 2024

On May 8, 2024, the Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society hosted its Spring Reception. Under the patronage of the Managing Director, Prof. Dr. Beatriz Roldán Cuenya, everyone gathered at the Haber Linde for an event that became an inspiring celebration of community.

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