Fiona Parth joins the Kühnel Lab from Leibniz Universität Hannover. She holds a master’s in Life Science and will embark on a PhD project in the field of semiartificial photosythesis.
Author: chemopsycho
Paper in Nature Chemistry
After a long review process, our joint paper with the Kornienko Lab in Bonn was finally published in Nature Chemistry (read paper here). The first experiments were performed by Max Kutter back in 2018! The paper shows how a mediocre homogeneous catalyst was turned into a highly active hetrogeneous electrocatalyst for CO2 reduction through the use of fluorine chemistry. Making a molecular cobalt terpyridine catalyst highly hydrophobic enables it to self-assemble on the surface of a gas-diffusion electrode, which alters its product selectivity from CO formation to the selective formation of CH4 at high current densities. We show that in this environment, proton transfer occurs via terpyridine ligands serving as a proton conduit. Free access to the paper is available here.
Farewell Cem
Cem returns to Instanbul after his internship in the Kühnel Lab. Best of luck for the future. We will miss you!
Moritz gives introductory interview
Moritz gives a detailed introductory interview to the University Press Office about his research and teaching career and motivation. Read the full interview here (Unfortunately, the interview is only available in German)
Additionally, we offer you an Instagram interview featuring a subtitled video that is accessible here: https://www.instagram.com/p/C-KOxpzsEjF/
We are hiring
The Kühnel Lab is looking for a motivated German-speaking PhD candidate (TVÖD E 13, 50%). We value team spirit, open communication and ambition. The successful candidate will work experimentally in the field of artificial photosynthesis e.g. on the synthesis and characterisation of materials and/or coordination compounds and performance testing as potential photo/electrocatalysts. The role includes duties in the organisation and teaching of the Department of Inorganic Chemistry, e.g. lab demonstrating. Applicants must hold a masters in chemistry or equivalent degree in a related discipline and must be fluent German speakers. The ideal candidate can demonstrate enthusiasm for research, motivation for acquiring new synthetic/analytical techniques and people skills. Experience in electrochemistry, photocatalysis and gas chromatography are desirable. Applications must be made in German via the online portal by 31/8/2024 (link).
Welcome Cem
Mücahit Cem Peküz joins the Kühnel Lab as a research intern from Gebze Technical
University, Instanbul.
Moritz speaks at GdR Solar Fuels
Moritz is invited to the joint meeting of the CNRS Groupes de Recherche Solar Fuels and Photo Electro Stimulation in Grenoble 24th-26th June (link to meeting) and delivers the IMBG Plenary Lecture about our research. Many thanks to the organisers for their invitation to this very enjoyable meeting!
Paper in Dalton Trans
Read Maite’s paper on MOF-based photocatalysts that was part of a bigger collaboration with the University of the Basque Country and Oulu University. In this paper, we investigate hydrogels based on disordered MOFs and study how different ways of platinum incorporation affect their performance for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution (link to paper).
Welcome Linnea, Zegha and Zaid
Linnea Ossenkop and Zegha Ghirmay join the Kühnel lab as technicians. Zaid Wonde starts as research intern working on photocatalytic hydrogen generation form biomass.
Our kit arrives
Finally, customs let us import our equipment from Wales to Germany. 4 pallets containing almost 1000 kg of lab equipment have been shipped from Swansea University to our new lab space in Hohenheim, all looking safe and sound. Time to set up the GC and solar simulator to get the research going!
Kühnel Lab 