The Young Scientist Award sponsored by BASF SE was   awarded to Dr. Marvin Cronau on the occasion of the GDCh Science Forum Chemistry in Leipzig in recognition of his outstanding dissertation written at the Philipps University of Marburg entitled: “Synthesis, characterization and optimization of new materials for use in high-performance lithium-ion and lithium solid-state batteries”  

"Dr. Cronau investigated the optimization of the energy density of lithium-ion batteries by using thicker electrode layers. Various parameters for the resulting necessary reduction in cell resistance were evaluated. In the second part of his work, which is particularly noteworthy, Dr. Cronau dealt with lithium solid-state batteries. Here he succeeded in uncovering and proving the dependence of the ionic conductivity of sulfidic solid electrolytes on the fabrication pressure of the sample and the measurement pressure. The previously unknown qualitative differences in the pressure dependence of the ionic conductivity in amorphous and glass-ceramic samples compared to microcrystalline samples that he discovered are of great importance for the further development of this type of battery. In addition, his findings can contribute to a better comparability of published ionic conductivities. In addition to the excellent scientific results that went into this extremely clear dissertation, which is provided with very good graphics, Dr. Cronau also took into account the classification of his research for large-scale application."

The Young Scientist Award was given to Tobias Löffler in recognition of his publication in February 2020 in the journal Angewandte Chemie International Edition entitled: "Design of Complex Solid-Solution Electrocatalysts by Correlating Configuration, Adsorption Energy Distribution Patterns, and Activity Curves".

High entropy alloys, in which five or more elements are present in a complex single-phase mixed crystal, form a multitude of combinations of electrocatalytically active centers that overcome the limitations of catalyst combinations of individual elements. Tobias Löffler developed a concept that correlates the composition of a mixed crystal with the distribution pattern of adsorption energies and thus enables the derivation of electrochemical activity curves. The concept was verified by investigating the oxygen reduction under alkaline conditions as a model reaction on selected catalyst combinations. This also makes it possible to limit the high effort involved in screening catalysts to the selection of sensible element configurations. The work contributes to the gain in understanding and reduces the future experimental effort for the synthesis and testing of electrocatalysts for the various applications of the promising substance class of high entropy alloys.