AG Smarsly - Professorship for Functionalized Nanomaterials
Welcome to the Smarsly Research Group!
! News from our research group !
Lysander successfully defends his dissertation on Mesoporous Materials for Electrochemical Applications: Pore Design and Connectivity | Fri 27.03.2026
Lysander has successfully completed his doctoral studies in our research group with a confident defense of his dissertation. As part of his project, he conducted in-depth research into the systematic variation of the pore structure of mesoporous metal oxides and carbon, and investigated their potential for electrocatalytic applications.
Congratulations, and all the best for your future endeavors!
Beam time at the BESSY II synchrotron facility in Berlin | March 2026
In mid-March, Frederik, Chantal, Pierre, and Lysander were in Berlin-Adlershof to conduct in-situ sorption-SAXS experiments at the synchrotron, kicking off this year’s beam time marathon. After a long week (including night shifts, which is why Pierre is absent from the photo) and having collected a wealth of measurement data, we are exhausted but very eager to see the results.
Participation in the 37th German Zeolite Conference, including a poster award | February 2026
At the end of February, Prof. Smarsly, Pierre, Melanie, Chantal, Frederik, Norman, and Lysander attended the German Zeolite Conference (DZT) in Stuttgart. The DZT is the annual gathering of the German community for porous materials and thus a must-attend event for our research group. We are all particularly delighted that Chantal won the George Kokotailo Award for her poster on mesoporous carbons in sodium-ion batteries. Congratulations, Chantal!
Usman successfully completes his doctoral project entitled Striving for Sustainable Catalysis – Design and Characterization of Silica Monolith Supports and Chitosan as a Solid Catalyst | Fri 19.12.2025
With a successful defense, Usman has taken the final step toward earning his doctorate. In his dissertation, conducted in collaboration with Prof. Dr. Peter Schreiner, he morphologically tailored silica monoliths, subsequently functionalized them, and investigated them, as well as chitosan, as heterogeneous organocatalyst.
We extend our warmest congratulations to Usman and wish him all the best for the future!
Pierre begins his PhD | Mon 01.12.2025
We are delighted that Pierre is now starting his PhD as part of the POREScale project, following the successful completion of his master’s thesis under Aline’s supervision. Unlike his previous research, he will now be focusing on porous carbon materials and their application in fuel cells. We wish him all a great start and look forward to the time together!
Welcome back, Pierre!
Norman begins his PhD | Fri 01.08.2025
We are very pleased to welcome Norman back to our research group. Following the successful completion of his master’s thesis under Aline’s supervision, he is now continuing his research on functionalized silica materials in heterogeneous organocatalysis as part of his doctoral studies. We wish him all a great start and look forward to the time together!
Welcome back, Norman!
The Members of the Smarsly Research Group
Here you can find an overview of all group members!
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Current Research
Here you can find the current research topics of the Smarsly Research Group!
To the researchPublications of the Smarsly Research Group
Here you can find all publications of the Smarsly Research Group from the last decade!
To the publicationsMailing Address of the Smarsly Research Group
Justus Liebig University Giessen
Institute of Physical Chemistry
Secretary Antonella D'Ambrosio
Tel.: +49(0)641 - 99 34591
Heinrich-Buff-Ring 17
35392 Giessen
Center for Materials Research (ZfM)
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Institute of Physical Chemistry (PCI)