Award for Materials Scientist
Optimised Electrodes for Green Hydrogen
- von Birte Vierjahn
- 26.09.2025
Her research shows how the production and efficiency of green hydrogen can be increased for real-world applications: Dr Vineetha Vinayakumar from the University of Duisburg-Essen has received the 2025 Friedrich Löffler Young Scientist Award. With this award, the VDI Society for Process Engineering and Chemical Engineering honours Vinayakumar's ‘outstanding research achievements in the field of particle technology.’
‘We live in a world where energy demand is increasing day by day,’ says Vinayakumar. Her answer to this challenge: green hydrogen. It can be obtained from water through electrolysis – without climate-damaging emissions, provided the electricity comes from renewable sources. But for this technology to work on a large scale, the materials used must be stable, efficient and affordable.
Vinayakumar leads essential research work within the nationwide hydrogen flagship project H2Giga: She investigates electrodes made of metal oxides and optimises their production step by step – from powder to suspension to nanometre-thin film. Using modern methods, she analyses each stage in detail, investigates fundamental transport properties and uses the findings to further increase the performance of the anodes.
Her path took her from India to Mexico and the USA before arriving in Germany. In the process, Vinayakumar has developed a unique multidisciplinary approach that translates fundamental materials science into practical energy solutions.
The award, that she received in Nuremberg, is presented to young experts from industry or research who have made outstanding contributions in the fields of particle research, particle technology and product design.
Image: Dr. Vineetha Vinayakumar in her laboratory.
Further Information:
Dr. Vineetha Vinayakumar, Particle Technology, vineetha.vinayakumar@uni-due.de
Editor: Birte Vierjahn, +49 203/37 9-2427, birte.vierjahn@uni-due.de