Open Projects

 

Research Projects

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Master and Bachelor Thesis

We are constantly looking for students who would like to do their bachelor/master thesis in the research field of heterogeneous catalysis and technical chemistry in the group of professor Palkovits. In case you are interested please contact professor Palkovits directly. For descent applications, please add to your request: your CV, a certification with all examinations and a short motivation. Of course, all students can get an overview first about topics by contacting the group.

Research Projects

Throughout the year, various research projects are offered in the working group. In the following, current research projects are advertised. Students who are interested in doing research work with us as part of their studies are best advised to contact the respective supervisors. It is also possible to personally visit the working group to get an overview of available projects. Dr. Chalachew Asmelash will be happy to answer any general questions you may have.

External research internships, bachelor and master theses

Since December 2019, Professor Palkovits holds a Max-Planck Fellowship at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion in Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany. The group "Solid Molecular Catalysts" offers research internships, bachelor and master theses on a regular basis. A detailed overview and further information are available via the following link.

Recent Topics

At the moment, the following projects are offered in our group:

• Synthesis and Characterisation of Co-, Fe- and Ca-substituted LaNiO₃ Perovskite-Electrocatalysts for the Electrochemical Oxygen Evolution Reaction in Alkaline Water Splitting for the Generation of Green Hydrogen (Nikolas Kubo)

• Production of pyrrolidone-based monomers for use in detergents and cleaning agents (Kooperaiton mit Henkel AG & Co. KGaA).
  Autoclave reactions: Develop parameter screening and purification methods.(SYN/CAT). ( Rebecca Sebers )
• Glycerol transformation in a continuous gas phase reactor: synthesis, analysis and testing of new heterogeneous catalysts (Martina Battisti)
• Supported catalytically active liquid metal solutions (SCALMS) - Novel and unusual systems in need of optimization. The research includes synthesis and characterization of the materials and catalytic investigations with regard to various fields of application. (Felix Ott)
• Production of biomass-based platform chemicals based on electrocatalysis - a novel approach for the conversion of biomass. The research includes the conversion of biomass-based acids to pyrrolidones by means of electrocatalysis and subsequent microwave reaction. (Reactions with an electrochemical cell, microwave reaction, various analytical methods) (Marie Grundmann)
• H₂-efficient synthesis of a clean Diesel additive - catalyst synthesis and characterization for the gas-phase non-oxidative dehydrogenation of methanol to dimethoxymethane (Natalia Simitsis)
• Investigation of the influences of electrode material, surface and temperature on reductive amination. The research offers many opportunities to contribute one's ideas and to get to know various analytical methods. (SYN/CAT) (Justus Kümper)
• Nano Pd-based electrocatalysts for hydrogen oxidation/ hydrogen evolution reaction for energy applications (Shwetambara Jha)
• Polyoxometalates for the efficient electrooxidation of glycerol - a green transformation of waste to fine chemicals (Sonja Mürtz and Nils Kurig)
• Applications of Machine Learning/Artificial Intelligence in Chemistry (Stefan Palkovits)
• Synthesis and catalytic tests of novel polyphosines as solid molecular catalysts (Janine Baums)