Professor Dr Jürgen Janek

Research Priorities: Solid-state chemistry, electrochemistry, interfacial chemistry, energy storage, batteries
Jürgen Janek is a German physical chemist. His research focuses on solid-state electrochemistry, defect and interfacial chemistry of inorganic functional materials, and electrochemical energy storage in batteries.
He conducts research in particular on innovative materials and concepts for electrochemical energy storage and converters. Since 2011 Janek has also been head of the BASF-KIT community laboratory at the Institute of Nanotechnology at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), where systematic studies are conducted on the cell reactions of lithium-ion batteries (LIB) and material developments for improved LIB.
Jürgen Janek is focused on the physical-chemical fundamentals of solid-state processes, which are important for modern energy and interface technologies. Currently, solid-state batteries are the focus of his research. Analytical studies on the formation of interphases on anodes and cathodes are additional areas of focus. Janek works in particular on transport and reaction in mixed conducting solids and in solid electrolytes. He is also researching new cell concepts for batteries based on metal-oxygen reactions (Li/O2, Na/O2) and metal-sulphur (Li/S8, Na/S8).
Solid-state batteries are considered the next generation of rechargeable batteries. They could enable faster charging processes and increase the ranges of e-cars. Also they are likely to have a longer lifetime than the current leading lithium-ion battery. Solid-state batteries based on ceramic electrolytes are expected to have a number of advantages. The conductivity of solid ionic conductors increases with temperature, and together with their higher chemical stability, this possibly also leads to less damage when overheated. There is major hope regarding the use of lithium metal as an electrode material , which tends to form short circuits (dendrite formation) in conventional batteries. Solid electrolytes reduce this risk – this could also lead to batteries with higher energy storage capacity in the long term.