Helmholtz Doctoral Award for Hanna Trzesniowski

During her doctoral studies at the Helmholtz Centre Berlin, Hanna Trzesniowski conducted research on nickel-based electrocatalysts for water splitting. Her work contributes to a deeper understanding of alkaline water electrolysis and paves the way for the development of more efficient and stable catalysts. On 8 July 2025, she received the Helmholtz Doctoral Prize, which honours the best and most original doctoral theses in the Helmholtz Association.

Almost 9,000 doctoral students are conducting research at Helmholtz. Eleven of them have now been honoured – one of them is Hanna Trzesniowski, who wrote her doctoral thesis at HZB and now works in Berkeley in the USA. On 8 July, she received the Helmholtz Doctoral Prize in the ‘Matter’ category from the President of Helmholtz, Prof. Otmar D. Wiestler.

“Cutting-edge research thrives on outstanding young talent from all over the world. That is why we at Helmholtz do everything we can to provide them with an environment in which they can fully develop their potential,” said Otmar D. Wiestler. “This year's award winners are shining examples of scientific excellence and innovation at the highest level.”

About the award-winning work

Hydrogen is considered an important building block for the energy system of the future and is also needed in large quantities as a raw material for the chemical industry. With the help of catalysts, water can be split electrolytically to produce hydrogen.

 As part of her doctoral research, Hanna Trzesniowski investigated nickel-based electrocatalysts for water splitting. Under alkaline conditions, these represent a promising alternative to rare materials such as iridium for hydrogen production. A key finding of her research was the elucidation of the electronic structure of nickel-iron oxide catalysts in their catalytically active state. In addition, she succeeded for the first time in spectroscopically observing the processes at the electrochemical interface – i.e. exactly where water splitting takes place. Hanna Trzesniowski's work contributes to deepening our understanding of alkaline water electrolysis and paving the way for the development of more efficient and stable catalysts.