Germany stands as a global leader in research and innovation, offering an ideal environment for international cooperation. Collaboration and exchange are central to Germany’s research success, with numerous opportunities and dedicated funding available to support partnerships worldwide. This open approach gives researchers in Germany the freedom to work with top talents and institutions across the globe, fostering groundbreaking advancements in diverse fields.
For their special issue "Freedom to Cooperate", the Federal Ministry of Education and Research visited international researchers working at leading German universities and research institutes, among others Professor Serena DeBeer at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion.
Spotlight: Serena DeBeer and the CuBE Project
Serena leads the Department of Inorganic Spectroscopy and is at the forefront of efforts to replace rare earth metals in catalysis—a key process in the production of everyday items like smartphones and cars. Rare earth metals are costly and environmentally damaging to extract, often contributing to geopolitical tensions. Serena’s goal is to substitute these materials with abundant elements like copper, a shift that could revolutionize sustainable chemical production.
In pursuit of this “Holy Grail” of catalysis, Serena’s team focuses on understanding catalysts at an atomic level. By developing advanced spectroscopic methods, they aim to unlock insights into C-H bond activation, a fundamental step in chemical reactions. This knowledge could pave the way for designing novel, copper-based catalysts that are both efficient and sustainable.
Her ambitious research takes place within the ERC-funded CuBE project (Cu–based Catalysts for C-H Activation), a synergy initiative that unites four Principal Investigators from three European countries. At the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion, Serena’s team includes scientists from 14 different countries, underscoring the truly international nature of her work.
Click here to watch the video about Serena DeBeer's work at the MPI CEC: https://www.research-in-germany.org/en/our-service/topics-in-focus/freedom-to-cooperate/serena-makes-chemical-production-clean-and-affordable.html
Learn more about the CuBE Project: www.cube-synergy.e