Research

Abel group - Department Materials and Methods for Sensing and Energy Applications.

The research areas of the Abel group include projects in the field of energy conversion, materials, methods development, and industrial applications. If possible, we transfer the technologies into innovations and ultimately into business.

Energy-related materials research includes energy production, storage, and conversion. We are therefore active in curiosity-driven fundamental research, engineering technology, as well as applied research. The group is known for strong R&D and applications, as well as transfers of innovations into business and spin-off companies.

Methods Development

We develop unique equipment and technologies in the field of a) mass spectrometry, b) micro- and nanospectroscopy, c) materials science, d) sensor concepts, and e) space related technologies.

Recent Publications:

1. Lee, C.; Pohl, M. N.; Ramphal, I. A.; Yang, W.; Winter, B.; Abel, B.; Neumark, D. M., Evaporation and Molecular Beam Scattering from a Flat Liquid Jet. The Journal of Physical Chemistry A 2022.

2. Yang, F.; Behrend, K. A.; Knorke, H.; Rohdenburg, M.; Charvat, A.; Jenne, C.; Abel, B.; Warneke, J., Anion-Anion Chemistry with Mass-Selected Molecular Fragments on Surfaces. Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2021, n/a (60), 24910-24914.

3. Wagner, M.; Lorenz, O.; Lohmann-Richters, F. P.; Varga, A.; Abel, B., Study on solid electrolyte catalyst poisoning in solid acid fuel cells. J Mater Chem A 2021, 9 (18), 11347-11358.

4. Urban, R.; Fischer, T. G.; Charvat, A.; Wink, K.; Krafft, B.; Ohla, S.; Zeitler, K.; Abel, B.; Belder, D., On-chip Mass Spectrometric Analysis in Non-polar Solvents by Liquid Beam Infrared Matrix-Assisted Laser Dispersion/Ionization. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 2021, 413, 1561-1570.

5. Moors, M.; Warneke, J.; López, X.; de Graaf, C.; Abel, B.; Monakhov, K. Y., Insights from Adsorption and Electron Modification Studies of Polyoxometalates on Surfaces for Molecular Memory Applications. Accounts Chem Res 2021, 54, 3377-3389.

6. Klenner, F.; Postberg, F.; Hillier, J.; Khawaja, N.; Reviol, R.; Stolz, F.; Cable, M. L.; Abel, B.; Noelle, L., Analog Experiments for the Identification of Trace Biosignatures in Ice Grains from Extraterrestrial Ocean Worlds. Astrobiology 2020, 20 (2), 179-189.

7. Klenner, F.; Postberg, F.; Hillier, J.; Khawaja, N.; Cable, M. L.; Abel, B.; Kempf, S.; Glein, C. R.; Lunine, J. I.; Hodyss, R.; Reviol, R.; Stolz, F., Discriminating Abiotic and Biotic Fingerprints of Amino Acids and Fatty Acids in Ice Grains Relevant to Ocean Worlds. Astrobiology 2020, 20 (10), 1168-1184.

8. Botsch, L.; Raatz, N.; Pezzagna, S.; Staacke, R.; John, R.; Abel, B.; Esquinazi, P. D.; Meijer, J.; Diziain, S., Vectorial calibration of superconducting magnets with a quantum magnetic sensor. Rev. Sci. Instr. 2020, 91, 125003.

9. Strieth-Kalthoff, F.; Henkel, C.; Teders, M.; Kahnt, A.; Knolle, W.; Gomez-Suarez, A.; Dirian, K.; Alex, W.; Bergander, K.; Daniliuc, C. G.; Abel, B.; Guldi, D. M.; Glorius, F., Discovery of Unforeseen Energy-Transfer-Based Transformations Using a Combined Screening Approach. Chem 2019, 5 (8), 2183-2194.

10. Klenner, F.; Postberg, F.; Hillier, J.; Khawaja, N.; Reviol, R.; Srama, R.; Abel, B.; Stolz, F.; Kempf, S., Analogue spectra for impact ionization mass spectra of water ice grains obtained at different impact speeds in space. Rapid Commun Mass Spectr 2019, 33 (22), 1751-1760.

11. Wunderlich, R.; Kohlrautz, J.; Abel, B.; Haase, J.; Meijer, J., Investigation of room temperature multispin-assisted bulk diamond C-13 hyperpolarization at low magnetic fields. J Phys-Condens Mat 2018, 30 (30), 305803 (6pp).

Energy Conversion

Energy-conversion is a central research area of the Abel group. It spans across the full spectrum of energy production, transport, storage and conversion. Beyond curiosity-driven fundamental research, we also focus on applied research in collaboration with industry. This includes in particular methods development in the field of fuel cells.

Recent Publications:

1. Hatahet, M. H.; Wagner, M.; Prager, A.; Helmstedt, U.; Abel, B., Functionalized and Platinum-Decorated Multi-Layer Oxidized Graphene as a Proton, and Electron Conducting Separator in Solid Acid Fuel Cells. Catalysts 2021, 11 (8), 947.

2. Wagner, M.; Lorenz, O.; Lohmann-Richters, F. P.; Varga, A.; Abel, B., On the role of local heating in cathode degradation during the oxygen reduction reaction in solid acid fuel cells. Sustain Energ Fuels 2020, 4 (10), 5284-5293.

3. Naumov, S.; Herzog, B.; Abel, B., Spectra and Photorelaxation of Hydroxyphenyl-benzotriazole-Type UV Absorbers: From Monomers to Nanoparticles. J Phys Chem A 2020, 124 (4), 625-632.

4. Lu, X. B.; Yang, X.; Tariq, M.; Li, F.; Steimecke, M.; Li, J.; Varga, A.; Bron, M.; Abel, B., Plasma-etched functionalized graphene as a metal-free electrode catalyst in solid acid fuel cells. J Mater Chem A 2020, 8 (5), 2445-2452.

5. Wagner, M.; Dressler, C.; Lohmann-Richters, F. P.; Hanus, K.; Sebastiani, D.; Varga, A.; Abel, B., Mechanism of ion conductivity through polymer-stabilized CsH2PO4 nanoparticular layers from experiment and theory. J Mater Chem A 2019, 7 (48), 27367-27376.

6. Naumov, O.; Naumov, S.; Abel, B.; Varga, A., The stability limits of highly active nitrogen doped carbon ORR nano-catalysts: a mechanistic study of degradation reactions. Nanoscale 2018, 10 (14), 6724-6733.

7. Lohmann-Richters, F. P.; Odenwald, C.; Kickelbick, G.; Abel, B.; Varga, A., Facile and scalable synthesis of sub-micrometer electrolyte particles for solid acid fuel cells. R S C Adv 2018, 8 (39), 21806-21815.

8. Lohmann-Richters, F. P.; Abel, B.; Varga, A., In situ determination of the electrochemically active platinum surface area: key to improvement of solid acid fuel cells. J Mater Chem A 2018, 6 (6), 2700-2707.

9. Naumov, O.; Lohmann, F. P.; Abel, B.; Varga, A., Carbon Nanotubes as a Solid Acid Fuel Cell Cathode Material: Insights into In Operando Functional Stability. Chem Electro Chem 2017, 4 (6), 1306-1313.

10. Lohmann, F. P.; Schulze, P. S. C.; Wagner, M.; Naumov, O.; Lotnyk, A.; Abel, B.; Varga, A., The next generation solid acid fuel cell electrodes: stable, high performance with minimized catalyst loading. J Mater Chem A 2017, 5 (29), 15021-15025.

11. Abdelrahman, A.; Abel, B.; Varga, A., Towards rational electrode design: quantifying the triple-phase boundary activity of Pt in solid acid fuel cell anodes by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. J Appl Electrochem 2017, 47 (3), 327-334.

12. Naumov, O.; Naumov, S.; Flyunt, R.; Abel, B.; Varga, A., Fast Degradation for High Activity: Oxygen- and Nitrogen-Functionalised Carbon Nanotubes in Solid-Acid Fuel-Cell Electrodes. Chem Sus Chem 2016, 9 (23), 3298-3306.

Materials Chemistry

Energy- and sensor related materials research spans across functionalized surfaces, irradiation modified materials, supramolecular chemistry, as well as carbon based materials, such as functionalized diamond and graphene.

Recent Publications:

1. Mayer, M.; Vankova, N.; Stolz, F.; B., A.; Heine, T.; Asmis, K. R., Identification of a Two-Coordinate Iron(I)–Oxalate Complex. Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2022, XX, e202117855.

3. Wild, M.; Stolz, F.; Naumov, S.; Abel, B., On the in situ formation of carbenes in ionic liquids. Molecular Physics 2021, e1974589.

4. Niavarani, Z.; Breite, D.; Prager, A.; Abel, B.; Schulze, A., Estradiol Removal by Adsorptive Coating of a Microfiltration Membrane. Membranes 2021, 11 (2), 99.

6. Tallaire, A.; Brinza, O.; Huillery, P.; Delord, T.; Pellet-Mary, C.; Staacke, R.; Abel, B.; Pezzagna, S.; Meijer, J.; Touati, N.; Binet, L.; Ferrier, A.; Goldner, P.; Hetet, G.; Achard, J., High NV density in a pink CVD diamond grown with N2O addition. Carbon 2020, 170, 421-429.

7. Staacke, R.; John, R.; Wunderlich, R.; Horsthemke, L.; Knolle, W.; Laube, C.; Glosekotter, P.; Burchard, B.; Abel, B.; Meijer, J., Isotropic Scalar Quantum Sensing of Magnetic Fields for Industrial Application. Adv Quantum Technol 2020, 3 (8), 2000037.

8. Mindarava, Y.; Blinder, R.; Liu, Y.; Scheuer, J.; Lang, J.; Agafonov, V.; Davydov, V. A.; Laube, C.; Knolle, W.; Abel, B.; Naydenov, B.; Jelezko, F., Synthesis and coherent properties of C-13-enriched sub-micron diamond particles with nitrogen vacancy color centers. Carbon 2020, 165, 395-403.

9. Mindarava, Y.; Blinder, R.; Laube, C.; Knolle, W.; Abel, B.; Jentgens, C.; Isoya, J.; Scheuer, J.; Lang, J.; Schwartz, I.; Naydenov, B.; Jelezko, F., Efficient conversion of nitrogen to nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond particles with high-temperature electron irradiation. Carbon 2020, 170, 182-190.

10. Hoffmann, B.; Esser, T. K.; Abel, B.; Asmis, K. R., Electronic Action Spectroscopy on Single Nanoparticles in the Gas Phase. J Phys Chem Lett 2020, 11 (15), 6051-6056.

11. Gozem, S.; Seidel, R.; Hergenhahn, U.; Lugovoy, E.; Abel, B.; Winter, B.; Krylov, A. I.; Bradforth, S. E., Probing the Electronic Structure of Bulk Water at the Molecular Length Scale with Angle-Resolved Photoelectron Spectroscopy. J Phys Chem Lett 2020, 11 (13), 5162-5170.

12. Ennaceri, H.; Fischer, K.; Hanus, K.; Chemseddine, A.; Prager, A.; Griebel, J.; Kuhnert, M.; Schulze, A.; Abel, B., Effect of Morphology on the Photoelectrochemical Activity of TiO2 Self-Organized Nanotube Arrays. Catalysts 2020, 10 (3), 279.

13. With, P. C.; Lehnert, J.; Seifert, L.; Dietrich, S.; Krautscheid, H.; Naumov, S.; Prager, A.; Abel, B.; Prager, L.; Helmstedt, U., Photochemical low-temperature synthesis of iron(III) oxide thin films. Appl Surf Sci 2019, 493, 525-532.

14. Laube, C.; Oeckinghaus, T.; Lehnert, J.; Griebel, J.; Knolle, W.; Denisenko, A.; Kahnt, A.; Meijer, J.; Wrachtrup, J.; Abel, B., Controlling the fluorescence properties of nitrogen vacancy centers in nanodiamonds. Nanoscale 2019, 11 (4), 1770-1783.

15. Zhou, J. Y.; Laube, C.; Knolle, W.; Naumov, S.; Prager, A.; Kopinke, F. D.; Abel, B., Efficient chlorine atom functionalization at nanodiamond surfaces by electron beam irradiation. Diam Relat Mater 2018, 82, 150-159.

16. Laube, C.; Hellweg, J.; Sturm, C.; Griebel, J.; Grundmann, M.; Kahnt, A.; Abel, B., Photoinduced Heating of Graphitized Nanodiamonds Monitored by the Raman Diamond Peak. J Phys Chem C 2018, 122 (44), 25685-25691.

17. John, T.; Gladytz, A.; Kubeil, C.; Martin, L. L.; Risselada, H. J.; Abel, B., Impact of nanoparticles on amyloid peptide and protein aggregation: a review with a focus on gold nanoparticles. Nanoscale 2018, 10 (45), 20894-20913.

18. Sajfutdinow, M.; Uhlig, K.; Prager, A.; Schneider, C.; Abel, B.; Smith, D. M., Nanoscale patterning of self-assembled monolayer (SAM)-functionalised substrates with single molecule contact printing. Nanoscale 2017, 9 (39), 15098-15106.

19. With, P. C.; Helmstedt, U.; Naumov, S.; Sobottka, A.; Prager, A.; Decker, U.; Heller, R.; Abel, B.; Prager, L., Low-Temperature Photochemical Conversion of Organometallic Precursor Layers to Titanium(IV) Oxide Thin Films. Chem Mater 2016, 28 (21), 7715-7724.

20. Gladytz, A.; Abel, B.; Risselada, H. J., Gold-Induced Fibril Growth: The Mechanism of Surface-Facilitated Amyloid Aggregation. Angew Chem Int Edit 2016, 55 (37), 11242-11246.

21. Tallaire, A.; Lesik, M.; Jacques, V.; Pezzagna, S.; Mille, V.; Brinza, O.; Meijer, J.; Abel, B.; Roch, J. F.; Gicquel, A.; Achard, J., Temperature dependent creation of nitrogen-vacancy centers in single crystal CVD diamond layers. Diam Relat Mater 2015, 51, 55-60.