Welcome to the Hess research group

where catalysts, gas sensors, and batteries meet physical chemistry

The laboratory of surface chemistry and in situ/ operando spectroscopy, led by Prof. Christian Hess, is a multidisciplinary research group that works on understanding the mode of operation of catalysts, gas sensors and batteries at a molecular level. Novel spectroscopic approaches are developed and applied to the characterization of materials under working conditions (operando approach). Relations between (defect) structure and activity/selectivity are studied by combining a variety of spectroscopic techniques. Controlled synthesis as well as nanoscale structuring using atomic-layer deposition enable the design of surfaces for applications in catalysis and alternative energy. Read more