September 23rd 2026
On September 21 and 22, 2026, representatives of the Helmholtz Institute Ulm (HIU) and the Helmholtz Institute Münster (HI-MS) met for a management meeting. The aim of the meeting was to further coordinate and deepen the strategic and scientific collaboration between the two leading German battery research institutes within the Helmholtz Association.
Both institutes contribute relevant expertise to battery research: while HIU conducts research on next-generation battery and cell concepts, HI-MS places a particular focus on ion conductors and innovative electrolytes for energy storage.
As part of the meeting, participants also took part in a joint workshop organized and led by Prof. Arnulf Latz (DLR/HIU/Ulm University, head of the Electrochemical Multiphysics Modeling research group) and Prof. Andreas Heuer (HI-MS/University of Münster, head of the Theory research group). The workshop presentations addressed the question of how experiment, theory, and artificial intelligence can jointly contribute to a better understanding and further development of battery systems.
September 22nd 2026
We are delighted to welcome Laurence Hardwick as Professor (W3) for Electrochemistry at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), with research undertaken at the Helmholtz Institute Ulm (HIU), where he will be working on integrating automation platforms into electrochemical methods for accelerating cell optimisation through interface design and characterisation, particularly focusing on beyond-lithium battery technologies.
At the Helmholtz Institute Ulm, we are especially eager to learn about his research plans for his new position, which he took up only a few weeks ago: “My vision is to utilise automation methods to unpick the complex chemical nature of electrode surface films, which play such an important role in battery lifetime and safety,” he states.
Laurence Hardwick is coming to Ulm from Liverpool, where he led the Stephenson Institute for Renewable Energy as Director and worked as Professor of Electrochemistry at the University of Liverpool (UoL). Together with the researchers in his group, he was responsible for developing cutting-edge technologies such as advanced operando Raman and infrared spectroscopic techniques that can probe the functionality of electrode interfaces at the nanoscale. By understanding real-time interface processes in batteries, electrolysers and electrochemical capacitors, his work led to crucial steps in improving energy storage solutions to meet net zero targets, as documented in more than 120 publications (including Science, Nature group, J. Amer. Chem. Soc., and Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.).
We are looking forward to working with Prof. Hardwick and asked him why he decided that the Helmholtz Institute Ulm was the right place for him. “I am very excited, because the Helmholtz Institute Ulm is well renowned for its world-leading battery research,” he states. What drove him to the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) was its exceptional expertise in materials and automation.
Having supervised over 20 PhD students and being intensely involved in international training networks, such as a dual PhD partnership scheme between UoL and National Tsing Hua University (NTHU), Taiwan, Hardwick is an exceptionally experienced scientist in his field.
In addition to his cutting-edge research and teaching experience, Laurence Hardwick was an editor of the International Society of Electrochemistry journal Electrochimica Acta (Elsevier) (2016–2024) and served as Conference Chair of the 2023 Royal Society of Chemistry Faraday Discussion conference on Non-Aqueous Metal-Air Batteries. Since September 1st, 2026, we are happy to have Laurence Hardwick as Professor of Electrochemistry (W3) at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), with research undertaken at the Helmholtz Institute Ulm (HIU). He will be situated at the CELEST Green Energy Lab Ulm.
September 14th, 2026
Three days. Almost 50 talks. More than 35 science posters. A 10-year anniversary and the honouring of our famous director Prof. Maximilian Fichtner, who celebrated his 65th birthday.
The recent MagBatt VI x ELLIPSE conference was not only a regional highlight in the calendar of battery-researchers, but an international one.
120 scientists and industry representatives from all over the world came together from September 9 to 11 in the city centre of Ulm, to discuss the future and next materials in post-lithium battery research.
From sodium, magnesium, potassium, calcium, zinc and aluminium batteries to electrolytes, interfaces, advanced characterization, modelling and charge-transfer processes, the scientific programme showcased the breadth and depth of material research for future energy storage.
For the first time, the International Symposium on Magnesium Batteries (MagBatt) and the ELLIPSE Conference on Electrolytes and Interfaces in Post-Lithium Batteries were combined under one roof – creating a unique platform to exchange ideas across different battery chemistries, materials and research approaches.
A huge thank you to Daniel Messling and Sarah Hameister, the organizing team from POLIS-cluster of excellence and to all the speakers, poster presenters, participants, partners and sponsors.
The biennial conference brings together researchers from different fields, to exchange perspectives and build new connections around a shared goal: advancing the next generation of sustainable energy-storage technologies.
© Photo by: Sarah Hameister
August 11th, 2026
Observations using atom probe tomography confirm the suspicion that in lithium batteries, lithium ions are lost to the copper current collector. This could limit their performance and lifespan. Researchers from the Helmholtz Institute Ulm / Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, led by Prof. Dr. Dominic Bresser, together with Ruhr University Bochum, led by Prof. Dr. Tong Li, have now used atom probe tomography to demonstrate that lithium ions become incorporated into the copper current collector. Every loss of lithium leads to a loss of capacity in lithium batteries and shortens their lifespan.
The work was funded by the European Union through the European Research Council Grants “INTERACT” and “RACER.”
The original publication from July 10, 2026 in Advanced Energy Materials:
https://advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/aenm.71291
© Photo by: Tong Li
August 5th, 2026
A defining feature of the Helmholtz Institute Ulm is its broad spectrum of research topics, made possible by the close collaboration of different partner institutions working together on battery research projects.
To further strengthen and actively develop this close collaboration, the institute’s research group leaders meet every two years for a two-day Strategy Meeting in Ulm.
This year’s meeting took place on July 30 and 31, bringing together the heads of the individual research groups at the Helmholtz Institute Ulm to present their latest research findings, explore new research directions, and initiate new internal collaborations.
In an open and engaging atmosphere, participants held in-depth discussions on the future strategic direction of the HIU while fostering a positive and collaborative exchange.
July 21st, 2026
She is working on solutions to a key question for the future: Professor Birgit Esser, spokesperson for the POLiS Cluster of Excellence and HIU research group leader, has been honored with the 2026 Science Award of the City of Ulm for her scientific excellence. The award was presented on Schwörmontag by Ulm’s Lord Mayor Martin Ansbacher.
Electrochemical energy storage is a key technology for a successful energy transition and is therefore highly relevant to society. For her outstanding research on sustainable battery materials and her science communication, Birgit Esser, chemist and professor at Ulm University, has now received the City of Ulm’s Science Award, endowed with 7,500 euros. The award was presented by Lord Mayor Martin Ansbacher on Monday, July 20, 2026, at the Schwörfeier ceremony.
Birgit Esser combines expertise in synthetic chemistry with know-how in the field of organic battery electrode materials. With her holistic approach, Esser aims to close the gap between basic research and its application. “Professor Esser is one of the defining scientists in her field,” Mayor Martin Ansbacher quoted from the award certificate at the Weinhof. “Her research combines scientific originality with high societal relevance.”
“Our shared goal is to find forward-looking solutions that make sense both economically and ecologically,” says Esser. “What excites me about organic electrode materials is the whole journey: it starts with targeted molecular design, which lets us control how a material takes up or releases electrons and how it behaves electrochemically,” the scientist explains. “Building on that, we want to understand exactly how these materials work — for example, how ions, meaning electrically charged particles, move through the material. We are currently researching this very intensively. In the end, it comes down to the concrete application: using these materials in battery cells.”
As founding director of the CELEST Green Energy Lab, which aims to establish a reference laboratory for electrochemical energy storage beyond lithium, Esser’s influence extends far beyond her own discipline, bringing together science, early-career support, and institutional development. The certificate text further states that she stands for international visibility, scientific excellence, and strategic development work, and that her work strengthens Ulm as a center of science in a special way.
University President Professor Michael Weber praised the award winner: “We are proud that one of the most renowned scientists in this demanding field is conducting research at Ulm University. Birgit Esser has played a major part in ensuring that Ulm, as a center of German battery research, continues to break new ground and remains internationally at the top. We are delighted that she is being honored with the 2026 Science Award.”
More about Prof. Dr. Birgit Esser
Chemist Birgit Esser was appointed professor of Organic Chemistry in Ulm in 2022, coming from the University of Freiburg. She is the spokesperson for the Ulm site of POLiS, Germany’s only battery Cluster of Excellence, which entered its second funding period in 2025. She has headed the Institute of Organic Chemistry II and New Materials since 2024; in 2023, Esser secured a Consolidator Grant from the European Research Council (ERC) worth two million euros. Esser is also a member of the CELEST research platform and a research group leader at the Helmholtz Institute Ulm. She studied and earned her doctorate in Heidelberg and conducted research at the University of Bonn and at MIT in the USA.
About the City of Ulm’s Science Award
Every two years, the City of Ulm awards its Science Award, endowed with a total of 15,000 euros, for outstanding scientific achievements by individuals, research groups, or working groups. It traditionally goes half to researchers from Ulm University and half to those from Ulm University of Applied Sciences (Technische Hochschule Ulm). The Science Award is granted by Ulm’s City Council based on the preliminary decision of a jury that includes representatives from the University, the Technische Hochschule Ulm, and members of the City Council.
Further information:
Prof. Dr. Birgit Esser, Institute of Organic Chemistry II and New Materials, Email: birgit.esser(at)uni-ulm.de
Image source: Christine Liebhardt / Uni Ulm
July 6th, 2026
Investments in research are investments in our future — but only a concrete market perspective helps bring scientific findings into application more quickly. That is exactly why the NEULAND Idea Competition was launched at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). It recognizes projects that promise particular benefits for industrial application.
We are delighted that Unho Jung and Dominik Steinle from the Helmholtz Institute Ulm have received one of the coveted NEULAND Awards 2026 for their project PolySafeBatt.
PolySafeBatt is developing a new generation of polymer-based lithium metal batteries. At its core is a high-voltage semi-solid-state polymer battery platform that combines three key advantages:
The heart of the technology lies in polymer electrolytes which, unlike conventional liquid electrolytes, cannot leak — a decisive safety advantage. At the same time, they are compatible with high-energy cathode materials as well as with lithium metal anodes, which enable particularly high energy densities. This means the platform combines two properties that are often in conflict in battery research: maximum safety and maximum performance.
The more energy a battery stores, the higher the safety requirements typically become. Conventional lithium-ion cells with liquid electrolyte carry a certain risk when damaged or overloaded — for example, through leaking or flammable electrolytes. Semi-solid-state and polymer systems like PolySafeBatt’s address this directly: they structurally reduce this risk without having to sacrifice high energy density.
This makes the technology especially interesting for areas where batteries are used close to humans or under demanding operating conditions.
The platform is specifically designed for battery systems that are sensitive to both safety and energy density requirements. Key application areas include:
The robotics sector in particular is growing rapidly and places new demands on energy storage: compact design, high power density, and maximum operational safety must all be met simultaneously. With its flexible form-factor concept, the PolySafeBatt platform addresses exactly these requirements.
KIT’s NEULAND Idea Competition recognizes research projects that bring concrete industrial application potential beyond their academic relevance. The fact that PolySafeBatt was honored with one of the coveted 2026 awards underscores this material platform’s potential to make the leap from basic research to industrial application.
For the Helmholtz Institute Ulm, this award is further proof of how closely materials research and application perspective are integrated at our institute.
Would you like to find out more about what the PolySafeBatt high-voltage semi-solid-state polymer battery platform looks like and how it works in detail? Feel free to get in touch with us — we welcome your interest and the exchange with industry and research.
Congratulations to Unho Jung and Dominik Steinle on the NEULAND Award 2026!
Foto: Dominik Steinle and Unho Jung at Helmholtz Institute Ulm
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Anna Sophia Boden
Press Officer
sophia.boden@kit.edu
June 24th, 2026
HIU Director Prof. Dr. Maximilian Fichtner at the IdeenExpo Talk with Ranga Yogeshwar: Battery Research Reaches a Broad Audience
On 23 June 2026, Prof. Dr. Maximilian Fichtner, Director of the Helmholtz Institute Ulm for Electrochemical Energy Storage (HIU), took part as a guest in the IdeenExpo talk series “Yes, we can!”. Under the title “From Yesterday to Tomorrow – How Can We Navigate Transformation?”, science journalist Ranga Yogeshwar moderated a discussion with guests from science, business, energy supply and space travel about the conditions needed for successful change — among them, alongside Fichtner, astronaut Rabea Rogge, cardiac surgeon Prof. Dr. Axel Haverich, and representatives of regional energy providers.
The venue was the UNESCO World Heritage Site Fagus-Werk in Alfeld — a symbolically charged setting for a conversation about change and new beginnings. The central themes of the evening were the major transitions of our time: how Germany can successfully shape change in energy, technology, science and infrastructure, and what conditions are needed to bring innovations into practice more quickly.
Invitations such as this one underline how central the HIU’s work is to questions of societal relevance. Battery technology and electrochemical energy storage are not abstract laboratory science — they are key technologies for the energy transition, tomorrow’s mobility, and the energy security of entire regions.
IdeenExpo is considered Europe’s largest technology and innovation festival for young people. From 20 to 28 June 2026, more than 330 exhibitors present over 800 hands-on exhibits across 14 themed areas at the Hannover exhibition grounds, with free admission on all event days. The fact that the talk series deliberately takes place outside the exhibition grounds — bringing figures like Fichtner into dialogue with business and society — sends a clear message: cutting-edge research belongs in the public conversation.
Foto: (c) iserundschmidt GmbH
Anna Sophia Boden
Press Officer
sophia.boden@kit.edu
April 24th, 2026
Battery versus hydrogen. Simulation versus experiment. Excellence Initiative versus Excellence Strategy.
Energy storage research encompasses a wide range of perspectives. In April 2026, the Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes (German Academic Scholarship Foundation) visited the HIU as part of their Alumni Summer Academy and gained fascinating insights into the research questions and findings at the Helmholtz Institute Ulm. The programme ranged from a scientific lecture by Prof. Dr. Axel Groß, founding member and research group leader at the HIU, to a laboratory tour led by research group leader Dr. Simon Fleischmann.
The engaged group from the German Academic Scholarship Foundation was not only introduced to the history of the HIU during their visit, but also to the scientific questions being explored at the institute. Lithium-ion batteries remain a true marvel of technology — but they are facing growing sustainable competition. Research into alternatives that are more powerful, reliable, sustainable, and environmentally friendly than current lithium-ion batteries is being conducted in particular within the Excellence Cluster POLiS.
Through visits for an interdisciplinary and curious audience, the Helmholtz Institute Ulm promotes the transfer of science into broader society — because research only unfolds its full impact when it is understood and supported.
We extend our sincere thanks for the interest shown by the German Academic Scholarship Foundation.
Anna Sophia Boden
Press Officer
sophia.boden@kit.edu
April 7th, 2026
Is our power supply secure even during blackouts?
What role could batteries play in this context?
In search of answers, Harald Lesch finds them at the Helmholtz Institute Ulm. Prof. Dr. Maximilian Fichtner, Managing Director of HIU, provides insights into future energy solutions in the new Terra X documentary “Blackout — How secure is our power supply?” (Terra X from April 7th, 2026, starting at 9:06 in the video). A longer interview is available that touches also other aspects of electrochemical energy storage.