The battery researcher Prof. Dr .Philipp Adelhelm was awarded the Berliner Wissenschaftspreis 2024 yesterday. Adelhelm is a professor at the Department of Chemistry at Humboldt-Universit?t zu Berlin (HU) and heads a joint research group at HU and the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB). The materials scientist and electrochemist conducts research into the development of sustainable batteries, which play a key role in the success of the energy transition. Internationally, he is one of the leading experts in the field of sodium-ion batteries.
Pioneering contributions to the future of energy supply
With his achievements in the field of battery research, Professor Adelhelm has made ground-breaking and internationally pioneering contributions to solving pressing future energy supply issues. According to the jury, Adelhelm and his research group have made a decisive contribution to the success of Berlin as a centre of electrochemistry and sustainability research.
Prof. Dr Philipp Adelhelm: "I am delighted to receive this award in recognition of our joint work on more sustainable batteries - an interdisciplinary project that we are realising in Berlin across the boundaries of several scientific institutions. The further development of cost-effective and safe electricity storage systems, for example for electric vehicles, home or large-scale storage systems, is a key element of the energy transition and security of supply. It is one of the major challenges facing chemistry and other STEM subjects. My special thanks go to my team and our cooperation partners - especially in Berlin as a centre of science, which, with its unique density of research institutions, is an ideal place for innovative materials research."
President Julia von Blumenthal: "I would like to congratulate Philipp Adelhelm on this well-deserved award. His innovative research into the development of sustainable batteries is not only an asset for Humboldt-Universit?t zu Berlin, but also makes a significant contribution to the energy transition and to Berlin as a centre of science. The fact that a scientist from our university has been honoured with the Berlin Science Award is a sign of excellent research and outstanding commitment that makes us very proud."
About the award winner
Philipp Adelhelm is Professor of Physical Chemistry of Materials at the Department of Chemistry. He is also a member of the Center for the Science of Materials Berlin (CSMB) and heads the joint research group "Operando Battery Analysis" at HU Berlin and the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB). Since 2025, he has also been co-spokesperson of the Berlin Battery Lab - a joint initiative of HU Berlin, HZB and the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) for the further development of sodium-ion batteries. In 2019, Philipp Adelhelm won a Consolidator Grant from the European Research Council (ERC).
The Berlin Science Prize
The Berlin Science Prize is awarded for outstanding achievements in science and research. In addition to scientific excellence, the possibility of practical implementation of the research is also a decisive criterion. The prize is endowed with 40,000 euros.