Publication

 

Publication

July 16, 2026

Check out our latest publication, Joule by Cell Press, in collaboration with Jang Wook Choi. We have been working on this for a long time (two generations of PhDs). 

We introduce a highly effective mechanically interlocked polymer binder that enables stable operation of silicon anodes at high tap densities—a critical requirement for achieving high volumetric energy density. Importantly, we further demonstrate that these densely packed electrodes retain excellent fast-charging capability.

Thanks to Gyuwon Seo, Ahmed Elabd, Seung Hyun Jeong, and Leonie Braks for their hard work!

Publication

 

Publication

July 15, 2026

Our latest publication, entitled "Molecular Interfacial Regulators Enable Stable Sulfide Electrolytes for High-Performance All-Solid-State Batteries," has just been accepted for publication in Advanced Energy Materials. 

In this study, we report a highly effective surface-coating strategy for sulfide electrolytes that stabilizes the electrode-electrolyte interface in all-solid-state batteries. This research has been funded by SNSF under the Sinergia Funding Scheme.

Congratulations to Laras for this excellent work! 

Publication

 

Publication

June 20, 2026

Check out our latest publication! Murad has done an amazing job with this project, where he demonstrated Pd–Cu single-atom catalysts in COFs for the Sonogashira cross-coupling reaction under batch and flow conditions, as well as the metal cooperativity on the same crystalline support. This approach also allowed us to precisely control the positions and coordination environment of metal ions. Supported by NCCR Catalysis,

In this study, we report the synthesis of a macrocyclic porous organic polymer for size and shape selective separation of organic solvents. This research has been funded by NCCR Catalysis.

Congratulations to Murad for this excellent work! 

June 15, 2026Innosuisse supports our project entitled "GraPoreX: graphene membranes for point-source carbon capture," in collaboration with SEPARATIC.This funding provides the critical support we need to take our lab-proven technology from the lab to industry. Thanks to Innosuisse - Swiss Innovation Agency for supporting our project.

 Funding

June 15, 2026

Innosuisse supports our project entitled "GraPoreX: graphene membranes for point-source carbon capture," in collaboration with SEPARATIC.

This funding provides the critical support we need to take our lab-proven technology from the lab to industry. Thanks to Innosuisse - Swiss Innovation Agency for supporting our project.

Publication

 

Publication

May 15, 2026

Our latest publication, in collaboration with the Choi group at Seoul National University, entitled "Mechanically Adaptive Polyrotaxane Interlayers for Low-Pressure High Energy Density Sulfide-Based All-Solid-State Batteries," has just been accepted for publication in Angewandte Chemie. 

Jihoon and Leonie Braks developed mechanically adaptive interfaces enabling robust cycling stability and reliable operation under commercially relevant conditions (25°C, 0.8 MPa), even in an anode-less configuration (N/P = 0) in sulfide-based all-solid-state batteries. This work shows the potential of composite interfaces containing elastic polymers such as polyrotaxanes to mitigate challenges in operating ASSBs at commercially relevant pressures. This research has been funded by SNSF under the Sinergia Funding Scheme.

Congratulations to Leonie for this excellent work! 

Publication

 

Publication

January 20, 2025

Our latest publication, in collaboration with the Miljanic group at the University of Houston, entitled "Porous Organic Polymers Incorporating Shape-persistent Cyclobenzoin Macrocycles for Organic Solvent Separation" is just accepted for publication in Angewandte Chemie and highlighted as a HOT article.

In this study, we report the synthesis of a macrocyclic porous organic polymer for size and shape selective separation of organic solvents. This research has been funded by NCCR Catalysis.

Congratulations to Timur for this excellent work!

Publication

December 17, 2024

Our latest publication, in collaboration with the Choi group at the Seoul National University, entitled "Solvation Structure Engineering of Weakly Coordinating Sulfonamide Electrolytes for 4.6 V Lithium Metal Batteries" is just accepted for publication in ACS Energy Letters. 

In this study, we systematically investigated the effect of ring size (4–6) at the N-terminal to tune their steric and electronic properties of trifluoromethanesulfonamide solvents to realize enhanced contact ion pairs for the formation of an anion-derived solid-electrolyte interface (SEI) and compatibility with the NMC811 cathode. 

Congratulations to Lea for this excellent work!

 Award

August 5, 2024

Dr. Timur Ashirov wins the Helvetica Prize of the Swiss Chemical Society for the best-published papers in Helvetica Chimica Acta. Runner up: Mr. Joël F. Keller (University of Basel). Congratulations Timur!

The SCS Helvetica Prize

Since 2019, Helvetica Chimica Acta awards the 'Helvetica Prize' on the occasion of the Fall Meeting of the Swiss Chemical Society to honor outstanding publications of young researchers in Switzerland. The prize is addressed to the best-published papers of PhD/Postdocs in Helvetica. The award winners present their work in a short talk at the Fall Meeting. The prize is endowed with CHF 1'000 for the winner and CHF 500 for the runner-up.