Loading [MathJax]/jax/output/SVG/config.js

ZMB Member Kai S. Exner

ZMB Member
Kai S. Exner

Next ZMB-Member
portrait photo of ZMB member Kai S. Exner
© private

Prof. Dr. Kai S. Exner

Faculty of Chemistry
University of Duisburg-Essen
Universitätsstr. 2
45141 Essen

Research Overview

  1. Drug delivery
  2. Functional nanoparticles
  3. Doxorubicin
  4. Multi-scale modeling

Press Releases

image representing research
UDE/Exner Group
Schmuckicon
uni-due.de | Presse release

Oxygen and chlorine evolution without noble metals Electrode potential transforms surfaces

[17.12.2024] They are highly selective and can be easily separated from the reaction mixture: single-atom catalysts combine the advantages of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis. Until now, their production has generally been associated with precious metals that are anchored to a solid substrate. Researchers led by the University of Duisburg-Essen have now shown that such structures can also be formed electrochemically – independently and without noble metals. Their findings, published in the scientific journal JACS*, open up new avenues for a simpler, more sustainable production of catalytically active materials.
ZMB Member: Prof. Dr. Kai Exner

Read more
image representing research
© UDE/Arne Rensing
Schmuckicon
uni-due.de | Presse release

Gottschalk-Diederich-Baedeker-Preis für Kai S. Exner Grundlagen der Energiewende

[24.10.2024] Seine Grundlagenforschung zu Elektrokatalysatoren trägt wesentlich dazu bei, die Energiewende voranzubringen: Der Theoretische Chemiker Prof. Dr. Kai S. Exner der Universität Duisburg-Essen wird in diesem Jahr mit dem Gottschalk-Diederich-Baedeker-Preis ausgezeichnet. Essens Oberbürgermeister Thomas Kufen überreichte den mit 5.000 Euro dotierten Preis.
„Die Verleihung stellt eine große Anerkennung meiner Forschung dar und unterstreicht die Bedeutung theoretischer Grundlagenforschung für die Energiewende“, sagt Exner, der als erster Theoretischer Elektrochemiker mit der seit 1984 verliehenen Auszeichnung geehrt wurde.

Read more

Selected Publications

    Journal articles

  • Wu, Tong; Dhaka, Kapil; Luo, Mengjia; Wang, Bingqing; Wang, Meng; Xi, Shibo; Zhang, Mingsheng; Huang, Fuqiang; Exner, Kai S.; Lum, Yanwei.
    CCooperative Active Sites on Ag2Pt3TiS6 for Enhanced Low-Temperature Ammonia Fuel Cell Electrocatalysis
    In: Angewandte Chemie International Edition Vol. 64 (2025) Nr. 6, e202418691 in press
  • Jangjooye Shaldehi, Tahereh; Rowshanzamir, Soosan; Exner, Kai S.; Viñes, Francesc; Illas, Francesc.
    Conventional versus Unconventional Oxygen Reduction Reaction Intermediates on Single Atom Catalysts
    In: ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces Vol. 17 (2025) Nr. 4, pp. 6450 - 6459
  • Usama, Muhammad; Razzaq, Samad; Exner, Kai.
    Design Criteria for Active and Selective Catalysts in the Nitrogen Oxidation Reaction
    In: ACS Physical Chemistry Au Vol. 5 (2025) Nr. 1, pp. 38 - 46
  • Exner, Kai S.
    Four Generations of Volcano Plots for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction : Beyond Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer Steps?
    In: Accounts of Chemical Research Vol. 57 (2024) Nr. 9, pp. 1336 - 1345
  • Razzaq, Samad; Exner, Kai.
    Why efficient bifunctional hydrogen electrocatalysis requires a change in the reaction mechanism
    In: iScience Vol. 27 (2024) Nr. 2, 108848
  • Cho, Junsic; Lim, Taejung; Kim, Haesol; Meng, Ling; Kim, Jinjong; Lee, Seunghoon; Lee, Jong Hoon; Jung, Gwan Yeong; Lee, Kug-Seung; Viñes, Francesc; Illas, Francesc; Exner, Kai; Joo, Sang Hoon; Choi, Chang Hyuck.
    Importance of broken geometric symmetry of single-atom Pt sites for efficient electrocatalysis
    In: Nature Communications Vol. 14 (2023) Nr. 1, 3233
  • Exner, Kai.
    Importance of the Walden Inversion for the Activity Volcano Plot of Oxygen Evolution
    In: Advanced Science Vol. 10 (2023) Nr. 36, 2305505
  • Razzaq, Samad; Exner, Kai.
    Materials Screening by the Descriptor Gmₐₓ(η) : The Free-Energy Span Model in Electrocatalysis
    In: ACS Catalysis Vol. 13 (2023) Nr. 3, pp. 1740 - 1758
  • Exner, Kai.
    On the mechanistic complexity of oxygen evolution : potential-dependent switching of the mechanism at the volcano apex
    In: Materials Horizons Vol. 10 (2023) Nr. 6, 2086
  • Spellauge, Maximilian; Tack, Meike; Streubel, René; Miertz, Matthias; Exner, Kai; Reichenberger, Sven; Barcikowski, Stephan; Huber, Heinz Paul; Ziefuß, Anna.
    Photomechanical Laser Fragmentation of IrO₂ Microparticles for the Synthesis of Active and Redox-Sensitive Colloidal Nanoclusters
    In: Small Vol. 19 (2023) Nr. 10, 2206485
  • Exner, Kai S.
    Steering Selectivity in the Four-Electron and Two-Electron Oxygen Reduction Reactions : On the Importance of the Volcano Slope
    In: ACS Physical Chemistry Au Vol. 3 (2023) Nr. 2, pp. 190 - 198
  • Lim, Taejung; Kim, Jae Hyung; Kim, Jinjong; Baek, Du San; Shin, Tae Joo; Jeong, Hu Young; Lee, Kug-Seung; Exner, Kai; Joo, Sang Hoon.
    General Efficacy of Atomically Dispersed Pt Catalysts for the Chlorine Evolution Reaction : Potential-Dependent Switching of the Kinetics and Mechanism
    In: ACS Catalysis Vol. 11 (2021) Nr. 19, pp. 12232 - 12246
  • Exner, Kai.
    The electrochemical-step asymmetry index
    In: MethodsX Vol. 8 (2021) 101590
  • Exner, Kai S.
    A Universal Descriptor for the Screening of Electrode Materials for Multiple-Electron Processes : Beyond the Thermodynamic Overpotential
    In: ACS Catalysis Vol. 10 (2020) Nr. 21, pp. 12607 - 12617
  • Exner, Kai S.
    Does a Thermoneutral Electrocatalyst Correspond to the Apex of a Volcano Plot for a Simple Two-Electron Process?
    In: Angewandte Chemie International Edition Vol. 59 (2020) Nr. 26, pp. 10236 - 10240
  • Exner, Kai S.
    Recent Progress in the Development of Screening Methods to Identify Electrode Materials for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction
    In: Advanced Functional Materials Vol. 30 (2020) Nr. 42, 2005060
  • Exner, Kai S.; Over, Herbert.
    Beyond the Rate-Determining Step in the Oxygen Evolution Reaction over a Single-Crystalline IrO₂(110) Model Electrode : Kinetic Scaling Relations
    In: ACS Catalysis Vol. 9 (2019) Nr. 8, pp. 6755 - 6765
  • Exner, Kai S.
    Is Thermodynamics a Good Descriptor for the Activity? : Re-Investigation of Sabatier's Principle by the Free Energy Diagram in Electrocatalysis
    In: ACS Catalysis Vol. 9 (2019) Nr. 6, pp. 5320 - 5329
  • Exner, Kai S.
    Recent Advancements Towards Closing the Gap between Electrocatalysis and Battery Science Communities : The Computational Lithium Electrode and Activity–Stability Volcano Plots
    In: ChemSusChem Vol. 12 (2019) Nr. 11, pp. 2330 - 2344
  • Exner, Kai S.; Sohrabnejad-Eskan, Iman; Over, Herbert.
    A Universal Approach to Determine the Free Energy Diagram of an Electrocatalytic Reaction
    In: ACS Catalysis Vol. 8 (2018) Nr. 3, pp. 1864 - 1879
  • Exner, Kai S.; Over, Herbert.
    Kinetics of Electrocatalytic Reactions from First-Principles : A Critical Comparison with the Ab Initio Thermodynamics Approach
    In: Accounts of Chemical Research Vol. 50 (2017) Nr. 5, pp. 1240 - 1247
  • Sohrabnejad-Eskan, Iman; Goryachev, Andrey; Exner, Kai S.; Kibler, Ludwig A.; Hensen, Emiel J.M.; Hofmann, Jan P.; Over, Herbert.
    Temperature-Dependent Kinetic Studies of the Chlorine Evolution Reaction over RuO₂(110) Model Electrodes
    In: ACS Catalysis Vol. 7 (2017) Nr. 4, pp. 2403 - 2411
  • Exner, Kai S.; Anton, Josef; Jacob, Timo; Over, Herbert.
    Full Kinetics from First Principles of the Chlorine Evolution Reaction over a RuO₂(110) Model Electrode
    In: Angewandte Chemie International Edition Vol. 55 (2016) Nr. 26, pp. 7501 - 7504
  • Exner, Kai S.; Anton, Josef; Jacob, Timo; Over, Herbert.
    Controlling selectivity in the chlorine evolution reaction over RuO₂-based catalysts
    In: Angewandte Chemie International Edition Vol. 53 (2014) Nr. 41, pp. 11032 - 11035