We are a research group interested in functional organic molecules and materials. We focus on their synthesis and application. Our main topics include investigating organic-based batteries, strained ring systems and photocatalysis. 

We are always looking for new group members (Bachelor, Master, PhD and PostDocs).

Adil's paper on "Nickel-Free Synthesis of Poly(pyrene-4,5,9,10-tetraone) forSodium-based Batteries: Insights into ElectrodeArchitecture and Reversible Na-ion Insertion" is published in Advanced Energy Materials! Congratulations Adil!

Eileen Schleicher rejoined our group for her Master thesis. Welcome back and good luck!

Philipp Penert successfully defended his PhD thesis titled "Redoxaktive kationische Polymere als Elektrodenmaterialien für vollorganische Batterien"

Congratulations!

Philipp's paper with Philippe Poizot's group on "Bi(benzimidazole)-Based Super-Electron-Donors in Redox Polymers as Battery Electrode Materials" is published in Applied Polymer Materials! The articel was selected as an ACS Editors' Choice. Good job Philipp!

After finishing their Bachelor theses in our group, Lisa Neige and Denis Hirsch rejoined the group for their Master theses. Welcome back!

We also welcome Samiha Lafhal in the group for her POLiS-funded research stay. Samiha is a PhD student in Professor Hasna Aziam's lab at the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (Morocco), who won the POLiS Award of Excellence 2025, enabling POLiS-funded collaborations. Welcome!

Philipp's paper on "Aryl Viologen Polymers in High-Voltage Full-Organic Batteries" is published in Advanced Energy and Sustainability Research! Well done Philipp!

Eva and Nico had a successful participation at the 1st AluSym 2026 in Jena. Eva recieved the 1st oral presentation award and Nico the 1st poster award. Congratulations to both!

After finishing her master thesis in this group Zoë Kleis rejoined us for her PhD. Welcome back!

Xiang's paper on "Diketo[n]CPPs as Chiral and Shape-adaptive Fullerene Hosts and Precursors to DBP[n]CPPs" is published in Chemical Science! Congratulations!

Hoops we did it again! Explore the world of Double Nanohoops in English and German! Both reviews are published in Angewandte Chemie, congrats to Luisa and Philipp!

Alex's joint paper with Dietzek-Ivanšić's group on "A Donor-Acceptor Photosensitizer-catalyst Dyad for Light Driven Nicotinamide Hydrogenation" is published in Chemical Science! Congrats on your first paper Alex!

After 5+ years of collaborative research efforts our paper on "Contact Electrification via Redox-Active Molecules" is published in Angewandte Chemie! Congratulations to our alumnus Philipp Gaiser!

Philipp's joint paper with Ron Naaman's group on "Chiral Nanohoops as an Efficient Spin Polarization System" is published in Advanced Functional Materials. Congratulations!

Philipp's paper on "Size and Geometry Impact the Chiroptical Properties of Double Nanohoops" is published in Journal of American Chemical Society. Congrats Philipp!

Anika Bock joined the group for her Bachelor thesis. Welcome and good luck!

Robin's joint paper with Oliver Dumele's group on "Enhanced Solubility and Deprotection of Pyrene-4,5,9,10-tetraones through Propylene Glycol and Propanediol Protection" is published in Organic Letters. Congratulations!

Louisa Prang joined the group for her Bachelor thesis. Welcome and good luck!

Florin's paper on "Synthesis of Poly(1,4-anthraquinone) Using Catalytic Amounts of Nickel" is published in Advanced Science. Congrats Florin!

Gerrit Herrmann joined the Group for his PhD and Zoë Kleis started with her master thesis. Welcome to the group!

Astrid Vogt just celebrated her 40th work anniversary, and Sylvia Schmid her 25th work anniversary at Ulm University. Congratulations!

We welcome Vivien Andrieux in the group for Postdoc! We are happy to have you here!

We welcome Harini Srikant in the group for her POLiS-funded research stay. We are happy to have you here! Harini is a PhD student in Professor Theresa Schoetz's lab at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (USA), who won the POLiS Award of Excellence 2024, enabling POLiS-funded collaborations.

Maximilian Schmidt successfully defended his PhD thesis with the title "Photoredoxkatalyse an organischen phenothiazinhaltigen Kavitäten und  antiaromatische Diarylpentalene als molekulare Drähte".

Congratulations!

After finishing his master thesis in our group, Nico Kokott rejoined us for his PhD. Welcome back Nico!

After his PhD in the group of Harry L. Anderson, Wojciech Stawski joined our group as a postdoc. Paula Wenz joined the group as a new PhD student and Momoko Sugiura will stay with us for a three month internship.

Welcome to the group!

Robin's paper on a symmetric all-organic batteries using a double-redox phenothiazine polymer was accepted in ACS Appl. Polymer Materials.

Adil's paper using a double mitigation strategy to enable superior cycling performance of pillar[5]quinone in Na batteries was accepted in Batteries & Supercaps.

Liping developed an Mg-ion-conducting gel polymer electrolyte to inhibit oligosulfide shuttling in Mg-S batteries, published in ACS Appl. Energy Mater.

Congratulations to all!

Our joint paper with Oliver Dumele's group is out in JACS where we investigate an azatruxene-COF as electrode materials for anion insertion in Mg-based battery cells. Check it out here.

After finishing their master thesis in the group Eva Bräutigam and Michael Keis rejoined us for their PhD. Welcome back!

Robin Weßling successfully defended his PhD thesis with the title "Redox-Active Organic Polymers for Application in Non-Conventional Energy Storage Systems".

Congratulations!

Gauthier Studer successfully defended his PhD thesis with the title "Synthesis and Electrochemical Investigation of Organic Electrode Materials for Aluminum and Magnesium Batteries".

Congratulations!

Maxis's paper on "Low-lying LUMOs boosting Conductance in Antiaromatic Dibenzopentalenes" is published in Chemistry European Journal. Congrats Maxi!

After finishing his master thesis in the group Lars Hinrichs rejoined us for his PhD. Welcome back! We also welcome Yannik Hansmann, who joined the group as a PhD student and Elias Hofmann, who joined for a Master thesis.

Lisa Neige joined the group for her Bachelor thesis. Welcome and good luck!

Isabel H. Morhenn joined the group for her PhD. Welcome and good luck!

Find the News Archive here.

You are interested in joining our group? Find more information here.