Zhang, J.; Liu, Y.; Njel, C.; Ronneberger, S.; Tarakina, N. V.; Löffler, F. F.: An all-in-one nanoprinting approach for the synthesis of a nanofilm library for unclonable anti-counterfeiting applications. Nature Nanotechnology 18, pp. 1027 - 1035 (2023)
With a prestigious Max Planck Fellowship (2025–2028), microbiologist Gabriele Berg from the Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy (ATB) is launching a research collaboration with Markus Antonietti. Together, they’re developing a solution to soil exhaustion and infertility: a custom-made soil created in the lab from plant residues, enriched with carefully selected microorganisms.
Scientists have long sought to understand the exact mechanism behind water splitting by carbon nitride catalysts. For the first time, Dr. Paolo Giusto and his team captured the step-by-step interactions at the interface between carbon nitride and water, detailing the transfer of protons and electrons from water to the catalyst under light. This…
The German Colloid Society’s Young Investigator Award acknowledges Zeininger's work in predicting and controlling the behavior of soft materials outside of thermodynamic equilibrium, as well as his establishment of guidelines for next-generation smart materials capable of responding to external stimuli in real time.
The prestigious 25,000-euro prize recognizes Prof. Markus Antonietti's groundbreaking research in carbon catalysis. He is developing materials with tailored properties for more sustainable chemical synthesis: carbon materials are abundant in nature, consume less energy than metal catalysts, and can be reused. The same Académie once hosted Antoine Lavoisier, the 'father of modern chemistry,' who also marveled at carbon’s versatility.
Our director, Markus Antonietti, received the prestigious Solvay Chair in Chemistry. The common thread of his lectures was the "black magic" of carbon materials, which can replace transition metals as catalysts for some of the most relevant reactions, thus revolutionizing chemistry and making it greener.
Mateusz Odziomek’s research group looked to the past to create innovative carbon materials for the future. Inspired by flame-retardant fabrics from the 1950s, the team added a record-high content of phosphorus to carbons. This new material could serve as an efficient catalyst in fields ranging from pharmaceuticals to plastics production.
The German Research Foundation is supporting the research on novel artificially intelligent emulsion systems in Dr. Lukas Zeininger's Emmy Noether Junior Research Group for another three years with additional funding of about one million euros.
Aleksandr Savateev has developed a unique online database. To do so, he has analyzed and standardized research data from 300 papers published over the past forty years in the field of photocharged semiconductors.
Using targeted gamma radiation, researchers at the Institutehave revealed the appearance and the specific role of non-crystalline phases during the formation of mesocrystals. Their findings provide fundamental insights for the controlled development and design of new mesocrystalline materials.
Soils are the basis of life and climate protectors at the same time - but things are not good for them. Due to overfertilization, deforestation, salinization and overgrazing, nearly two billion hectares of arable and pasture land worldwide are affected by moderate to severe soil degradation.
As one of three award winners, Markus Antonietti receives the international research prize "Lombardia è Ricerca", endowed with 1,000,000 euros, at La Scala in Milan. The researchers have developed a process for clean energy production using "artificial photosynthesis" modeled on nature.
Researchers at the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces have developed a sustainable and "smart photocatalyst". As a so-called smart material, it can distinguish between the colors of light (blue, red and green) and, in response, enables a specific chemical reaction programmed into it.