Prof. Dr. Walter Leitner is new Director at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion

As of 1 October 2017, Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Walter Leitner took over the scientific management of the "Molecular Catalysis" department as director at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion (MPI CEC).

The new research projects at the MPI CEC form an ideal complement based on the research carried out at the ITMC, which deals in particular with the catalytic conversion of carbon dioxide as a raw material. "With innovative chemical processes, we are trying to ‚reap‘ renewable energies for the material value chain," explains Prof. Leitner. "The Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion offers the perfect framework to explore the fundamental questions of catalyst development that result from this vision," says Leitner. The basic goal here is to elaborate reaction engineering concepts which are based on the principles of "Green Chemistry" starting from the molecular basis. In order to achieve this goal, there will be three working groups which deal in particular with multifunctional catalytic systems, with metal-organic electrocatalysis and with multi-phase catalysis.

Prof. Leitner will continue his function as Department Chair at the ITMC on a part-time base for five years. This opens up the opportunity to initiate intensive research cooperation between the RWTH Aachen University and the MPI CEC. "With this cooperation model, we can effectively shape the flow of information between basic research and technical application in both directions and thus act as a ‚catalyst‘" explains Leitner. "This creates a new interface between universities and non-university research facilities for the science landscape in North Rhine-Westphalia."

Further information can be found in the official press release of RWTH and on the MPI CEC page.