Open Projects

 

Research Projects

© RWTH

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 electrochemical characterization of nickel-iron catalysts for electrochemical water splitting for the efficient production of green hydrogen (Maike Berger)
• Thermocatalytic pyrrolidone synthesis and investigation of the reductive amination of levulinic acid by electrocatalysis (Marie Grundmann)
• Process development the production of bio based acrolein and acrylonitrile from glycerol: testing of supported tungsten catalysts in a laboratory scale set up (continuous reactor in gas-phase) (Martina Battisti)
• Synthesis and characterisation of cobalt-based perovskites and investigation of it in the hydrogen-deuterium exchange ( Felix Ott )  
• 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)
• Catalyst synthesis and characterization for the gas-phase non-oxidative dehydrogenation of methanol to dimethoxymethane (Natalia Simitsis)
• Nano Pd-based electrocatalysts for hydrogen oxidation/ hydrogen evolution reaction for energy applications (Shwetambara Jha)
• Water influence on the catalytic loading of liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHC) using a batch reactor (CAT) (Barbara Bong)
• Polyoxometalates for the efficient electrooxidation of glycerol - a green transformation of waste to fine chemicals (Sonja Mürtz and Nils Kurig)
• Immobilized Homogeneous Catalyst for Enantioselective Hydrogenation of Aromatic Ketones (CAT) (Sebastian Seidel)
• Applications of Machine Learning/Artificial Intelligence in Chemistry (Stefan Palkovits)
• Synthesis and catalytic tests of novel polyphosines as solid molecular catalysts (Janine Baums)