Humboldt-Fellow at HZB: Alexander R. Uhl

Alexander R. Uhl, UBC Okanagan School of Engineering Kelowna, Canada, pursues his research project as a Humboldt Fellow for at least ten months at the HZB Institute for Solar Fuels.

Alexander R. Uhl, UBC Okanagan School of Engineering Kelowna, Canada, pursues his research project as a Humboldt Fellow for at least ten months at the HZB Institute for Solar Fuels. © UBC Okanagan

Alexander R. Uhl, UBC Okanagan School of Engineering in Kelowna, Canada, aims to develop with Roel van de Krol from the HZB Institute for Solar Fuels an efficient and inexpensive photoelectrolyser for producing hydrogen using sunlight. His stay is being funded by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.

Dr. Alexander R. Uhl from the UBC Okanagan School of Engineering in Kelowna, Canada, has been collaborating with Roel van de Krol on a joint research project since 2023. As a Humboldt Fellow, he will now be able to continue this project at HZB over the next ten months.

‘HZB has earned an international reputation in the field of solar fuels and catalysis, and I am looking forward to deepening our collaboration,’ he says. They aim to develop a photoelectrolysis device with light-sensitive photoelectrodes that uses sunlight to split water molecules into their components and produce green hydrogen. ‘Our goal is to develop a robust, scalable, and cost-effective solution based on low-cost and abundant materials,’ says Uhl. 

Alexander R. Uhl earned his doctorate from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH) and conducted research at universities in Canada, USA, Sweden, and at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL). Since 2019 he is a professor at the Okanagan School of Engineering, University of British Columbia, Canada. His achievements include developing printed solar cells, tandem cells, and photoelectrochemical cells.

arö

  • Copy link

You might also be interested in

  • Materials chemistry shapes the future of catalysis
    Science Highlight
    29.05.2026
    Materials chemistry shapes the future of catalysis
    The synthesis of materials can serve as a tool for developing smart, adaptive electrocatalysts. This rapidly evolving field of research involves in-situ analytics, data-driven discoveries and autonomous robotics. These new approaches could accelerate the discovery of long-lasting and efficient catalysts for future energy conversion and the decarbonisation of the chemical industry. A recent article by Dr Prashanth Menezes and his team in the renowned journal Angewandte Chemie provides an overview of this research.
  • Imaging Ellipsometry for Process Control of Thin-Film Devices
    Science Highlight
    22.05.2026
    Imaging Ellipsometry for Process Control of Thin-Film Devices
    A German–Israeli research team led by Dr. Andreas Furchner has demonstrated how imaging ellipsometry enables non-destructive characterisation and quality control of microstructured MXene thin films during device fabrication. The authors used two complementary ellipsometry approaches for precise, multi-scale access to key material properties. The work positions imaging ellipsometry as a powerful platform for monitoring thin-film uniformity, device integrity, and functionality throughout processing, including critical lithographic steps.  The study was published in Applied Physics Letters and selected as an Editor’s Pick.
  • Cool vaccines in rural Kenya: solar solution has been awarded by UN
    Interview
    11.05.2026
    Cool vaccines in rural Kenya: solar solution has been awarded by UN
    In May 2026, Tabitha Awuor Amollo is spending some weeks as a guest scientist at HZB, analysing perovskite thin films at BESSY II. The Kenyan physicist from Egerton University, Nairobi, was recently recognised for her achievements in research and teaching. For the development of a solar-powered refrigeration system for use in rural health centres, she  has been awarded the 2026 Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD)-Elsevier Foundation Award. An interview on exceptional projects and daily struggles of a scientist. Questions were asked by Antonia Rötger.