Max Planck Institutes and Experts

Electrochemical energy systems like fuel cells, batteries and electrolysis cells are attractive for future energy systems as they are highly energy efficient and can follow the dynamic demand of energy or can convert a dynamic oversupply of electricity gained from renewables into chemical energy. A deeper understanding of the complex processes at electrodes and in such cells can be reached when systematically applying dynamic electrochemical analysis methods. In addition, such methods may be used to detect the state of cells and electrodes or even to sense concentrations.

Operations in chemistry and biology are based on complex interactions between molecules. The biological and chemical generation of hydrogen, one of the energy carriers of the future, by enzymes or catalysts at ambient temperature was investigated by applying various computational approaches. Nature-inspired chemical systems are necessary in order to reveal details of the enzymatic system. In molecular systems biology, the focus and the way of investigations shift and enable the understanding of interactions and kinetics of proteins in networks.

Spreading processes occur in many complex systems. They play an important role, for instance, in the formation of epidemics and the spread of evolutionary novelties. Until recently, most theories of those processes ignored or approximated the role of noise. The example of evolution illustrates, however, that random chance effects should not be neglected. We report a substantial advance in the analysis of these and more complex models.

In our research work we focused on novel labeling methods using (3+2) cycloadditions. Our main goal was to synthesize radiofluorinated 1,3-dipoles, which easily react with double and triple bonds. A second aim was to develop a simple method for the preparation of radiolabeled β-lactams. Furthermore 1,2-didehydrobenzene was used in association with the novel 1,3-dipoles to produce ¹⁸F-labeled homo- and heterocycles, which are difficult to prepare via conventional procedures. These approaches extend the spectrum of accessible radiolabeled probes and enable access to novel intelligent PET probes.

Magnons are the wave-like motions of the magnetic moments in a magnetically ordered solid. Similar to other waves, magnons may also be used for information processing. The study of wavelength, frequency and lifetime of magnons in magnetic solids is an important area of research. At the Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics the properties of magnons excited at ferromagnetic surfaces are investigated using spin-polarized electron spectroscopy.