Research Area "Material and Energy"

The aim of the research focus Materials & Energy Research and the DFG Cluster of Excellence "e-conversion" is the development of sustainable energy conversion and energy storage systems. To this end, both the synthesis of new materials and fundamental mechanistic studies to understand microscopic energy conversion processes and their targeted control are being carried out. This research work forms the basis for a whole range of applications, in particular for new types of sustainable solar cells, for electrochemical, photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical hydrogen production and for electrochemical energy storage in new battery concepts. The special research strategy of the cluster focuses on fundamental mechanistic questions of energy conversion processes at interfaces, which are omnipresent in solar cells, electrolyzers and batteries, for example, and is advanced by the optimal use of synergies between synthesis, operando studies, theoretical modeling, nanoscience and device design. The research focus thrives on the close cooperation of expert groups within chemistry, physics and biology.