Simone Pokrant

Research Interests

Renewable energy conversion and storage are relevant topics in applied research today, since the use of non-fossil energy sources is essential for the reduction of CO2 emissions. Solar and wind energy harvesting combined with chemical energy storage in batteries or fuels like hydrogen are essential processes, which need to be improved in efficiency, long-term stability and scalability. Although substantial progress has been already achieved, many proposed solutions and devices show good short time efficiencies in laboratory environments, but are too cost-intensive and not yet suitable for large-scale applications. My long-term goal is to contribute to the development of cost effective scalable solutions for energy conversion and storage: On one hand by developing functional materials and devices based on scalable (solid state chemical) fabrication techniques. On the other hand by investigating structure property relations in energy conversion and storage materials with the aim to obtain efficient long-lasting materials.

LECTURES

• Physical Chemistry I (Chemical Thermodynamics); with E. Dachs
• Physical Chemistry II (Kinetics); with T. Berger
• Practical Course Physical Chemistry I for Teachers; with T. Berger and G. Zickler
• Chemical Calculus; with D. Euchler, N. Hüsing and D. Reiff
• Materials Characterization III (Thermophysical Properties and Thermal Analysis)
• Resource Management, Recovery and Recycling

CAREER

Since October 2018

• Professor of Functional Materials, Paris-Lodron University of Salzburg (Salzburg, Austria) 

2016 - 2018

• Professor of Physical Chemistry, Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft des Saarlandes (Saarbrücken, Germany) 

2012 - 2016

• Research Group Leader at the "Eidgenössischen Materialprüfungs- und Forschungsanstalt" (Empa), Department of Materials for Energyconversion (Dübendorf, Switzerland)
• Lecturer at the Materials Department, ETH Zürich (Switzerland) 

2007 - 2012

• Product manager for transmission electron microscopy at Zeis (Oberkochen, Germany)

2002 - 2007

• Technical leader the electron microscopy group (Department of physical characterising) at NXP semiconductors (Crolles, France)

1999 - 2002

• Postdoc in Solid State Physics, Laboratoire Louis Néel (Grenoble, France)

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS

1996 - 1999

• P.h.D Thesis in Physical Chemistry with summa cum laude:"Magnetic Properties of DyN BiM Clusters in Molecular Beams", University of Marburg and Bonn (Germany) 

1995 - 1996

• Master Thesis in Theoretical Chemistry: "Calculating surface effects of CdSe Nanoclusters", University of California (Berkley, USA)

1993 - 1995

• Master of Science, Chemistry, University of Marburg (Germany) 

1991 - 1993

• Bachelor of Science, Chemistry, University of Tübingen (Germany)