On December 5th, 2024, the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion (MPI-CEC) in Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany, hosted the German-French Symposium on Molecular Electrocatalysis at the Crossroad of Synthesis and Energy Conversion. The event gathered a crowd of 60 researchers, highlighting key contributions from the German and French scientific communities in the rapidly evolving field of molecular electrocatalysis.
The symposium featured an engaging lineup of talks delivered by both established experts and emerging scientists at the forefront of molecular electrocatalysis. The presentations provided a very rich and insightful coverage of molecular electrocatalysis at the intersection between energy conversion and synthetic applications, also including interactions with neighboring disciplines, as for instance homogeneous catalysis, computational chemistry and device developments.
Interactive poster sessions and lively discussions during the breaks further enriched the day, fostering dynamic exchanges of ideas and showcasing innovative advances in the field. A particular highlight was the recognition of outstanding poster presentations, with prizes awarded to Alberto Piccoli, Dr. Ana Laura Luna Barron, and Dr. Darryl Nater for their exceptional contributions.
This successful first edition was jointly initiated and organized by Nicolas Kaeffer (MPI-CEC) and Nicolas Queyriaux (LCC CNRS), with crucial support from the Max Planck Society (MPG), CNRS, and generous sponsors. Their contributions enabled free attendance while guaranteeing a top-tier program.
Beyond scientific discussions, this day also brought a community together, with ongoing exchanges around opportunities to develop future events, networks and collaborations. Many positive feedbacks were returned, with already expressed enthusiasms for the next edition and making this symposium a recurring one. This edition was the first one, but certainly not the last one!
The first German-French Symposium on Molecular Electrocatalysis has set the stage for continued collaboration and innovation in the field—an exciting beginning for what promises to be a long-standing tradition.