Where do you see the biggest challenges in the energy transition?
Expectations of science are enormous—and often unrealistic. We still know surprisingly little about key technologies such as batteries, hydrogen, and new chemical storage systems. Politics and the public hope for quick results, but energy systems evolve on a much longer timescale. That mismatch creates pressure and disappointment when breakthroughs don’t arrive “on schedule.”
Your research ranges from organocatalysis to quantum tunneling. How do these projects connect to energy?
Catalysis is always energy research, because it lowers the activation energy of chemical reactions. We develop purely organic catalysts that work without expensive, toxic metals like platinum or palladium—safer, cheaper, and closer to what nature does.
A second line of work uses quantum mechanical tunneling, which lets reactions “go through the mountain” instead of “over it.” This genuine quantum effect can save extraordinary amounts of energy by allowing reactions to occur at much lower temperatures than classical chemistry predicts.
And our most recent breakthrough is the discovery of hexanitrogen (N₆), the most energy-rich compound ever made. Pure nitrogen surrounds us, but it’s normally inert. Stabilising it in a dense form creates an energy store with no carbon footprint and astonishing potential for future batteries or fuel systems.
What is your vision for the future of energy supply?
We need a diversified energy mix—wind, solar, hydropower, and new chemical storage methods. Electricity will dominate, but local generation and storage are crucial to avoid the heavy energy costs of long-distance transport. Hydrogen remains promising but is difficult to compress, store, and move efficiently. Ammonia or novel nitrogen allotropes may ultimately prove more practical and safer. The key is that no single technology will solve everything.
You often emphasize international collaboration. Why is it so important?
Science knows no borders. Our N₆ project involved researchers from China, Armenia, and Germany. Global problems like climate change and energy shortages can only be solved globally. That’s why I foster exchange—whether at conferences, in joint publications, or through programmes like our “Liebig College,” which brings international students to Giessen for hands-on laboratory projects.
Even when politics becomes divisive, science remains a bridge. I’ve worked with colleagues who speak no common language; with a sheet of paper and chemical formulas, we still understand each other. Those connections are vital, especially when diplomatic channels close. They keep ideas flowing and remind us that knowledge belongs to everyone.