Students Delve Into the Future of Batteries

Out of the lecture halls and into the laboratories of the MEET Battery Research Center - that was on the agenda for 21 students from the Master's degree programs in Business Chemistry and Chemistry at the University of Münster in the module “Electrochemical Energy Storage and Conversion”. In this elective focus, prospective scientists not only attend lectures at MEET and Helmholtz Institute Münster (HI MS), but also complete laboratory internships. The students get to know the fundamental research of the institutes in a very practical way, as well as application-oriented research topics such as various analysis methods, material synthesis and battery cell manufacturing.

Listen, watch and experiment yourself

The renowned scientists from MEET and HI MS have been providing insights into their daily work in the master module for over ten years. In the lectures, speakers from both institutes present theoretical basics and their current research. Immediately afterwards, the master's students go to the laboratory, for example to measure the conductivity of electrolytes or to use analytical methods to examine the charging and discharging processes of battery cells. The students are intensively supervised by doctoral students during their experiments and receive a comprehensive overview of a wide variety of energy storage and conversion processes, possible limitations, new technologies and practical applications.

Perspectives in leading research institutions

The ten-week master's module started in 2012 with 30 places, and up to 60 prospective scientists can now take part in the module. Max Vinzelberg, master's student in chemistry, is one of them. He is sure that he made a good choice by moving from Berlin to Münster: "MEET and the University of Münster stand for state-of-the-art research and development; as a master's student, you have many opportunities to learn in a practical way and get to know promising technologies." Next, he would like to complete the planned project module abroad. “And we have to see whether the master’s thesis or later a doctorate at MEET or HI MS will follow, but I can well imagine it,” says the student, enthusiastic about the work at the institutes.

Jonathan Bäthge, master's student in business chemistry, says that he is already planning his master's thesis in a company, but he can well imagine doing a doctorate at MEET or HI MS in the future. “In this master’s module we learn about various methods, a wide variety of materials and analysis options in a very practical way. The battery research institutions in Münster are diverse and offer the opportunity to choose a wide variety of focus areas for your professional future." Both, MEET and HI MS, offer various perspectives for interested students: In addition to bachelor's and master's theses, work as a student assistant and the Doctorate in battery research are possible.