Institute Electrochemical Energy Storage

Operando Analysis of Energy Materials

The Research Group - Operando Analysis of Energy Materials:

Back row from left: Dr. Robert Bradbury (Postdoc, FestPoLiS), Dr. Jan-Philipp Hoffknecht (PostDoc, NaseFest), Dr. Rafael Müller (Postdoc, SkaLiS), Dr. Sebastian Risse (Group Leader)
Front row from left: M.Sc. Huiying Sheng (PhD-Student, CSC), Dr. Philipp Hönicke (Senior Scientist, permanent), Dr. Rebeca Fortes-Martín (Postdoc, OpMetBat), Dr. Oliver Löhmann (Postdoc, SPP2248)

The "Electrochemistry" research group, led by Dr. Sebastian Risse, focuses on the operando analysis of high-capacity electrode materials such as silicon, tin, and sulfur. By employing multimodal operando techniques—where multiple, independent measurement methods are conducted simultaneously during charge and discharge cycles—the group obtains a comprehensive understanding of electrochemical systems across various length and time scales. This strategy is particularly effective for uncovering the mechanisms behind complex charge/discharge behaviors. For instance, Raman, UV/vis, and impedance spectroscopy can be performed in parallel with temperature monitoring throughout cycling. Additionally, combining structure-resolving techniques like X-ray imaging and small-angle scattering with spectroscopic methods yields valuable insights. The group also investigates industrially relevant formats, including pouch cells and all-solid-state batteries. To further enhance their studies on degradation processes, they frequently utilize synchrotron radiation sources, especially BESSY II.