Our team

Tel.: 03641 948201

ulrich.schubert@helmholtz-berlin.de

ulrich.schubert@uni-jena.de

Prof. Dr Ulrich S. Schubert from Friedrich Schiller University Jena is the founding director and the scientific spokesperson of HIPOLE Jena. Please contact regarding scientific transfer/collaborations and research issues.

Prof. Dr. Schubert is involved in three research areas: polymer-based solutions for energy storage and conversion, sustainable polymers, and polymers for medical applications. He uses high-throughput processes modern characterization techniques, as well as machine learning and artificial intelligence methods.

Tel.: 030 806243191

yan.lu@helmholtz-berlin.de

yan.lu@uni-jena.de

The main objective of my research is to design and create functional hybrid materials based on polymeric colloidal particles with versatile applications, such as energy storage materials, catalysts, and optical devices.

Specifically, I focus on the well-defined colloidal particles with tailored mesoscopic structures, covering not only their preparation and application,  but also the understanding of fundamental phenomena governing the functionality using advanced operando methods.

Tel.: 03641 948 983

ivo.nischang@helmholtz-berlin.de

ivo.nischang@uni-jena.de

We aim to understand the physicochemical structure of polymers and colloids utilized for the creation of energy storage device elements.

Particular focus lies on a combination of molecular hydrodynamic and light scattering techniques together with an assessment of the resultant global solution characteristics in polymer redox flow batteries. A key technique is analytical ultracentrifugation and its methods.

Tel.:  03641 948 980 / +49 172 1859 443

maria.haupt@helmholtz-berlin.de 

m.haupt@uni-jena.de

I am your right contact person for all administrative issues. As an HR representative, I manage the recruitment processes and therefore I am available to answer any questions. Additionally, I am responsible for finance/purchasing, creating cost center evaluations, budget planning, and supporting investments. Feel free to contact me.

Tel.: 03641 948982

marina.romanova@helmholtz-berlin.de

marina.romanova@uni-jena.de

I’m here to enhance the visibility of HIPOLE Jena online. Feel free to reach out to me regarding publications on our current website and LinkedIn page. Additionally, I specialize in online marketing, design creation, photo and video editing, and managing printing production for our team.

Tel.: 03641 948 981

franziska.hein@helmholtz-berlin.de

franziska.hein@uni-jena.de

• Coordination of all administrative processes
• Support and coordination of personnel measures
• Looking after and supporting guests and employees und supporting the ledership

Tel.:  03641 948 568

renzo.paulus@helmholtz-berlin.de

renzo.paulus@uni-jena.de

• Provide technical support to staff, troubleshooting hardware, software, and network issues.
• Set up and maintain computers, printers, and other office equipment.
• Assist in managing data backups and system recovery.

Tel.: 03641 948984

christian.friebe@helmholtz-berlin.de

christian.friebe@uni-jena.de

Dr. Christian Friebe is currently working on the development of active materials for organic thin-film batteries. The investigated materials are based on a combination of electropolymerized conjugated polymers and stable organic radicals. The project is part of the DFG priority program “Polymer-based Batteries” (SPP 2248).

Tel.: 03641 948 180

purushottam.poudel@helmholtz-berlin.de

purushottam.poudel@uni-jena.de

• Synthesis and characterization of polyelectrolytes using controlled/living polymerization methods.
• Modifying polymer materials through polymer-analogous reactions and preparing graft copolymers with electrolytes for energy applications.
• Characterization of nanostructured materials, hybrid materials, gels, and thin films at multiple length scales using SAXS, WAXS, GISAXS, and GIWAXS.

Tel.: 3641 948 438

konstantin.schutjajew@helmholtz-berlin.de

konstantin.schutjajew@uni-jena.de

The research interest of Dr. Konstantin Schutjajew is directed towards applications in the field of energy storage and conversion, with a special focus on the profound electrochemical investigation of the system’s underlying phenomena and mechanisms. His particular field of expertise is the investigation of the fundamental operating processes of carbon materials, which find applications in sodium and lithium-ion batteries.

Tel.: 03641 948 976

andrea.cabrera_espinoza@helmholtz-berlin.de

andrea.cabrera.espinoza@uni-jena.de

Dr. Andrea Cabrera-Espinoza is working as a postdoctoral researcher at HIPOLE Jena on the development of functional polymers for photovoltaic and battery applications.

Tel.: 03641 948 985

leisan.gilmanova@helmholtz-berlin.de

leisan.gilmanova@uni-jena.de

Leisan Gilmanova works on the development of redox-active molecules and polymers as active materials for redox flow batteries (RFB) and thin-film batteries as well as redox targeting. A particular focus of research is the development of chemical energy storage, energy conversion and CO₂ adsorption based on organic and organometallic active materials

Tel.: 03641 948 978

Rodrigo.herran@helmholtz-berlin.de

Rodrigo.herran@uni-jena.de

Dr. Rodrigo Herran is working on novel chemical energy storage systems based on organic active materials. In particular, he aims to develop sustainable, ecofriendly redox-active polymers for both thin-film and redox-flow batteries. Feel free to get in contact to work together.

Tel.: 03641 948 976

valentina.pirela_wilhelm@helmholtz-berlin.de

valentina.pirela.wilhelm@uni-jena.de

I will focus on understanding and enhancing the stability and performance of encapsulation materials for solar cells. I plan to use advanced techniques such as TEM and SEM to study how these materials behave under different conditions.

The research will explore various commercial materials, examining their thermal and mechanical properties to ensure they support solar cell durability without harming sensitive components like perovskites as well as characterizing new materials and understanding their properties to optimize their use in both solar cell and battery applications, to contribute valuable insights to these fields

Tel.: 03641 948 978

sergey.nechausov@helmholtz-berlin.de

sergei.nechausov@uni-jena.de

Dr. Sergei Nechausov’s research is currently focused on developing sustainable polyelectrolytes for use as separators in organic thin-film batteries, with a particular emphasis on exploring innovative manufacturing approaches. Additionally, he is working to enhance the performance of polymer-based organic batteries by introducing various types of carbon materials into the electrodes. His research interests also extend to the development of compositions suitable for the additive manufacturing of electrodes used in redox-flow batteries.

Tel.: 03641 948 595

ilya.anufriev@helmholtz-berlin.de

ilya.anufriev@uni-jena.de

Ilya Anufriev works in solution characterization of energy materials for novel polymer redox-flow batteries and photovoltaic systems using molecular hydrodynamics and light scattering. His work mainly focuses on analyzing macromolecules and colloids by Analytical Ultracentrifugation (AUC) and Asymmetrical Flow Field-Flow Fractionation (AF4).

Tel.: 03641 948575

rene.burges@helmholtz-berlin.de

r.burges@uni-jena.de

Mr. René Burges maintains the SEC and LC systems. He is responsible for maintaining the devices, training new employees in self-measurement operation and developing new separation methods and perform service measurements.

Tel.: 03641 948258

leon.lange@helmholtz-berlin.de

leon.xavier.lange@uni-jena.de

Mr. Lange is working in conjunction with the NMR-Platform on taking care of the NMR spectrometers of the FSU Jena. He is responsible for the maintenance of the instruments, instructing new coworkers in the use of the open-access spectrometers, and performing service measurements.

Tel.: 03641 948 984

andreas.mantey@helmholtz-berlin.de

andreas.mantey@uni-jena.de

As a safety officer, Mr. Mantey is responsible for the proper operation of the laboratory. In collaboration with Mr. Burges, he looks after the HIPOLE measuring instruments (SEC/LC/Rheometer) concerning their operational readiness and the instruction of employees for self-measurement operations. He also supports the scientists with chemical syntheses.

Tel.: 03641 948 976

philip.zimmer@helmholtz-berlin.de

philip.zimmer@uni-jena.de

Materialscreening for polymer thin-film batteries

Tel.: 03641 948 480

oyku.simsek@helmholtz-berlin.de

oyku.simsek@uni-jena.de

• Synthesis and characterization of gel polymer electrolytes for hybrid organic batteries
• Electrochemical characterization of hybrid organic batteries

Tel.: 03641 948 438

kai.hetze@helmholtz-berlin.de

kai.hetze@uni-jena.de

As part of my PhD, I am currently working on the selective separation and electrochemical conversion of carbon dioxide. My research focuses on the development of novel metal-free catalyst systems based on polymer-carbon composites.

Tel.: 03641 948 976

thomas.halmanseder@helmholtz-berlin.de

thomas.halmanseder@uni-jena.de

The main goal of this work is to design multifunctional polymers as encapsulation materials for perovskite solar cells. These polymers should be able to capture leaking lead-ions and/or should show the ability for self-healing.

andrian.mirza@helmholtz-berlin.de

andrian.mirza@uni-jena.de

I am working at the intersection of chemistry and machine learning. Building a foundation model for chemistry is essential for the development of more efficient and safe drugs and materials.

Tel.: 49 3641 948400

martin.oschatz@helmholtz-berlin.de

martin.oschatz@uni-jena.de

In particular, we develop porous carbon materials, for example as electrode materials for batteries and supercapacitors, for the adsorption and electrochemical conversion of small molecules (e.g. nitrogen or carbon dioxide) as well as for light-driven water splitting or adsorptive water purification.

Based on materials with a defined chemical structure and tunable pore architecture, we aim for a more precise understanding of fundamental mechanisms in these applications. This means that materials can be tailored in advance in the future. Another core point of our research is the production of such high-performance materials via energy-efficient syntheses and from sustainable precursor compounds such as biological polymers

Tel.: 49 3641 948250

felix.schacher@helmholtz-berlin.de

felix.schacher@uni-jena.de

We are primarily concerned with the synthesis of polymers using living and controlled polymerization methods, as well as their structure formation in different environments. The focus is often on polyelectrolytes and polyampholytes and their behavior at interfaces. We also contribute expertise in the investigation of nanoscale structures using imaging methods or scattering techniques (light and X-ray scattering) and their modification using various methods.

Tel.: 49 3641 948113

andrea.pannwitz@uni-jena.de

We work on sustainable molecular catalysis for energy conversion and focus on (solar) light-driven processes (endowed CZS-junior professorship). We apply the concept of compartmentalization via biomimetic membranes, as well as light-induced energy and electron transfer, e.g. for catalytic water splitting and CO₂ conversion. We design and synthesize tailored molecular organic and molecular coordination compounds. For mechanistic investigations, we apply steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopy (ns-microseconds, UV-vis).

Tel.: 49 3641 948 227

martin.hager@helmholtz-berlin.de

martin.hager@uni-jena.de

My research is focused on new functional polymeric materials. In particular, self-healing materials are studied. Reversible polymers are utilized to achieve the restoration of mechanical damage and functional self-healing materials, which are capable to restore their function after a damage event (e.g., absorption after photooxidation), are studied. Furthermore, conjugated polymers for their use in solar cells are researched.

Tel.: 49 3641 948 319

kevin.jablonka@helmholtz-berlin.de

kevin.jablonka@uni-jena.de

In our research, we develop novel data-driven techniques to solve real materials design problems across scale in an actionable way. We use machine learning models as navigation systems for the chemical space. We do this in close collaboration with experimental partners and by working on several themes that are key for progress in the field.

Tel.:  49 3641 948561

jacob.schneidewind@helmholtz-berlin.de

jacob.schneidewind@uni-jena.de

Since 2023 I lead a research group at Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena and since 2024 I am an associated member of HIPOLE Jena. Our research group focuses on the development of photocatalysts for the direct production of green hydrogen from solar energy.

To this end, we work with different polymer materials, such as conjugated polymers and carbon nitrides, to enable light absorption and catalysis, splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen. Our research aims to elucidate novel mechanisms to utilize solar energy for this reaction, applying these learnings for the development of efficient photocatalysts and preparing this technology for scale-up through the development of suitable photoreactors and processes.