Research

Mission statement
What we stand for

We pioneer electrochemical materials for sustainable energy storage, innovative water technologies, and eco-friendly recycling solutions.
(Nano)Materials
Material synthesis

Synthesis of 2D, 3D, and hybrid (nano)materials with electrochemical functionality
Energy
Energy storage

Energy storage: batteries, supercapacitors, and hybrid devices
Water
Water deioinization

Water deionization via electrochemical materials and processes

Find out more about our research, materials, and innovations!

We pioneer electrochemical materials for sustainable energy storage, innovative water technologies, and eco-friendly recycling solutions. We are driven by our vision to create a better world through new energy materials: explore! create! apply!

Our team builds on curiosity, diversity, and scientific excellence to advance energy materials research. Our work flow and direct instrumental access allow fast throughput toward material synthesis, material characterization, and electrochemical/application benchmarking.

The four core pillars of our work are (1) material synthesis & characterization, (2) sustainability & recycling, (3) energy storage, and (4) water technologies. But the key to success are the people and their motivation, energy, and vision toward a better, more sustainable future for humankind and their dedication to research on next-generation technologies and materials.

Our team is engaged in the synthesis, characterization, and deployment of electrochemically active materials and interfaces. Central to our work is the need to synergize electrochemical activity with electrical conductivity, a challenge we address by the design of advanced hybrid materials. We employ a variety of techniques to achieve this integration, including sol-gel processes, atomic layer deposition, chemical vapor deposition, electrospinning, among others. These synthesis methods are complemented by an array of material characterization tools, including scanning/transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman and infrared spectroscopy, thermal analysis, and more. Whenever possible, these methods are extended toward in situ and in operando operation to fully understand electrochemical materials and processes.

Our portfolio of materials and nanomaterials is extended with a strong expertise in carbon materials, 2D materials, and hybrid materials. The list of our carbon materials includes carbon onions, activated carbons, carbide-derived carbon, polymer-derived carbon, and carbon nanofibers. For 2D materials, we explore MXene, MBene, and various transition metal dichalcogenides. Also, we synthesize and utilize a long list of metal oxides, mixed metal and high entropy metal oxides, advanced conversion and alloying materials, and more.

Electrochemical energy storage is at the core of sustainable technologies to store, convert, and recover energy. Our research team explores next-generation electrode materials for Sodium- and Lithium-ion batteries, advanced supercapacitors, and novel hybrid systems. A particular focus is on next-next generation electrode materials, including MXene, high-entropy materials, and nanoscaled hybrid materials. We capitalize on an array of synthesis and characterization methods to employ intercalation, conversion reactions, and alloying reactions for boosting the charge storage capacity and charge/discharge rates. Digitalization, digital twinning, and modelling of energy materials and electrode fabrication complements our research portfolio, including basic research and industrial partnerships.

Energy materials are not just prime candidates for electrochemical energy storage but also are gateways to novel water technologies. Via processes much like for batteries and supercapacitors, that is, redox processes (ion intercalation, alloying and conversion reactions) and ion electrosorption, we can manage the flow of ions. We can selectively immobilize and extract specific ions and drive that process not by high pressure or membrane filtration, but by electrochemical processes and ion selective materials. Our key research activities include general seawater desalination, Lithium-ion extraction, and heavy metal ion removal. Our vision is to have electrochemical processes for an array of elements and compounds for energy-efficient deionization toward circular material use, local elemental harvesting, and pollutant removal.