Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Grant for Dr. Jie Wei
Dr. Jie Wei strives to further elucidate the nanoscale structure-property relationships at electrocatalytic interfaces for CO2 and CO conversion. © C. Kley / HZB
In April, Dr. Jie Wei started his research work in the Helmholtz Young Investigator Group Nanoscale Operando CO2 Photo-Electrocatalysis at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) and Fritz Haber Institute (FHI) of the Max Planck Society. Wei received one of the highly competitive Humboldt postdoctoral research fellowships and will pursue his two-year project under the guidance of the academic hosts Dr. Christopher Kley and Prof. Dr. Beatriz Roldan Cuenya.
Jie Wei is a native of China and obtained his PhD in physical chemistry at the University of Science and Technology of China. He spent two years as a postdoc at Tsinghua University (China). His previous works focused on the interface structure and dynamic behavior of catalysts under reaction conditions using (video-rate) electrochemical scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), differential electrochemical mass spectrometry and in situ Raman spectroscopy.
“I applied for a postdoctoral position in this group because of the hosts’ expertise in employing cutting-edge in situ surface-sensitive characterization techniques for advancing fundamental understanding of catalysts under reaction conditions,” says Wei. “Together, HZB and FHI offer a unique range of cutting-edge experimental resources along with a strong theory support for calculation and modeling of solid-liquid interfaces. Having access to such advanced spectroscopic characterization tools, particularly electrochemical atomic force microscopy, is awesome. I strive to further elucidate the nanoscale structure-property relationships at electrocatalytic interfaces for CO2 and CO conversion,” he continues.
From his stay in Berlin, Wei also expects to expand his scientific expertise, moving towards more sundry methodologies and more complex sample systems.
“With Jie’s expertise, we look forward to pushing forward the field of nanoscale electrocatalysis for renewable energy conversion and storage", says Christopher Kley. “A key for our successful research is a very diverse and open environment. I am delighted that Jie will enrich our team with new perspectives and ideas“, Beatriz Roldan Cuenya adds.
HZB and FHI have been collaborating on catalysis research for several years. Together they operate the BMBF funded large-scale Catalysis Laboratory (CatLab).
The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation annually awards various fellowships to outstanding scientists from all over the world in all disciplines. The fellowships are highly prized, and the “Humboltians”-community counts numerous Nobel Prizes.
- How carbonates influence CO2-to-fuel conversionResearchers from the Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin (HZB) and the Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society (FHI) have uncovered how carbonate molecules affect the conversion of CO2 into valuable fuels on gold electrocatalysts. Their findings reveal key molecular mechanisms in CO2 electrocatalysis and hydrogen evolution, pointing to new strategies for improving energy efficiency and reaction selectivity.
- Peat as a sustainable precursor for fuel cell catalyst materialsIron-nitrogen-carbon catalysts have the potential to replace the more expensive platinum catalysts currently used in fuel cells. This is shown by a study conducted by researchers from the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB), Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) and universities in Tartu and Tallinn, Estonia. At BESSY II, the team observed the formation of complex microstructures within various samples. They then analysed which structural parameters were particularly important for fostering the preferred electrochemical reactions. The raw material for such catalysts is well decomposed peat.
- Helmholtz Investigator Group on magnonsDr Hebatalla Elnaggar is setting up a new Helmholtz Investigator Group at HZB. At BESSY II, the materials scientist will investigate so-called magnons in magnetic perovskite thin films. The aim is to lay the foundations for future terahertz magnon technology: magnonic devices operating in the terahertz range could process data using a fraction of the energy required by the most advanced semiconductor devices, and at speeds up to a thousand times faster.