OREANDA-NEWS. The international "Science Award Electrochemistry" from BASF and Volkswagen goes in 2013 to Dr. Karl Mayrhofer, work group "Electrocatalysis", Max-Planck-Institut fur Eisenforschung, Dusseldorf.

The jury of representatives from BASF, Volkswagen and from academia selected Mayrhofer for the outstanding results of his research on electrocatalysts, which are crucial for the life expectancy of fuel cells. The scientist has developed new test and analysis methods which enable direct visual investigation of degradation pathways for different catalysts, and which identify fully automatic appropriate materials for catalysts. These research results are an important contribution to realizing highly active and stabile electrocatalysts for efficient electrochemical energy converters.

With the "Science Award Electrochemistry," which is endowed with prize money of EUR50,000, BASF and Volkswagen support outstanding scientific and engineering achievements in the electrochemistry, and provide an incentive for the development of high-performance energy stores.

As the world's largest automotive supplier in the chemical industry, BASF currently offers innovative electrolytes and cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries. In addition, we are working intensively on the further development of these high-performance materials as well as future battery technologies.

Efficient and affordable batteries are the most important prerequisite for more electromobility on our streets. We know that progress often makes small steps and that the market success for the next generation of batteries will probably only appear during the next decade. However, the potential from this business segment is enormous," said Dr. Kurt Bock, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE at the award ceremony in Ludwigshafen. BASF significantly facilitates affordable and enviroment-friendly electromobility through battery materials and catalysts for fuel cells. In order to develop and explore new future-oriented battery technologies faster, BASF and Volkswagen encourage highly qualified scientists from all over the world with the science prize.