Helmholtz Doctoral Award for Hanna Trzesniowski
Helmholtz president Otmar D. Wiestler presented Hanna Trzesniowski with the Helmholtz Doctoral Prize on 8 July 2025. © Oliver Walterscheid
The Helmholtz President surrounded by the doctoral prize winners (from left to right): Marvin Carl May, Clara Vázquez García, Stephan Hilpmann, Lars Grundhöfer, Otmar D. Wiestler, Laura Helleckes, Monica Keszler, Benedikt Wagner, Hanna Trzesniowski, Celia Dobersalske, Tim Ziegler, and Vanessa Stenvers. © Oliver Walterscheid
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.
- Key technology for a future without fossil fuelsIn June and July 2025, catalyst researcher Nico Fischer spent some time at HZB. It was his sabbatical, he was relieved of his duties as Director of the Catalysis Institute in Cape Town for several months and was able to focus on research only. His institute is collaborating with HZB on two projects that aim to develop environmentally friendly alternatives using innovative catalyst technologies. The questions were asked by Antonia Rötger, HZB.
- Berlin Science Award goes to Philipp AdelhelmBattery researcher Prof. Dr. Philipp Adelhelm has been awarded the 2024 Berlin Science Award. He is a professor at the Institute of Chemistry at Humboldt University in Berlin (HU) and heads a joint research group at HU and the Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin (HZB). The materials scientist and electrochemist is investigating sustainable batteries, which play a key role in the success of the energy transition. He is one of the leading international experts in the field of sodium-ion batteries.
- Scrolls from Buddhist shrine virtually unrolled at BESSY IIThe Mongolian collection of the Ethnological Museum of the National Museums in Berlin contains a unique Gungervaa shrine. Among the objects found inside were three tiny scrolls, wrapped in silk. Using 3D X-ray tomography, a team at HZB was able to create a digital copy of one of the scrolls. With a mathematical method the scroll could be virtually unrolled to reveal the scripture on the strip. This method is also used in battery research.