Double doctoral success at ZBT

Sebastian Hirt was the first to defend his thesis, which also marks a special chapter in the institute’s history. His dissertation is one of the last research projects conducted by ZBT in the field of battery technology, as this focus area has since undergone a strategic realignment. This makes it all the more gratifying to conclude this chapter with an outstanding doctoral thesis.

In his thesis, Sebastian investigated lithium-sulfur batteries as a potentially more environmentally friendly alternative to lithium-ion systems. His research focused on the so-called polysulfide shuttle mechanism — a key challenge of this technology that has thus far limited the lifespan of the cells. By developing and conducting the analysis of various approaches to suppress unwanted side reactions, he made an important contribution to improving cell stability. The examination committee was impressed not only by the scientific quality of his work but also by his clearly structured and vividly presented lecture.

Just a few days later, Viktor Mackert followed with his successful defense. His doctoral research, which he had begun even before joining the ZBT, focuses on fundamental questions regarding nanoparticles in dispersions and colloidal systems. His work focused on agglomeration mechanisms and strategies to prevent them, as well as the electrophoretic deposition of particles on material surfaces. For his experimental investigations, Viktor utilised, among other things, three different synchrotron light sources to precisely analyse processes and structures.