In the recent years extensive collaborative experimental and theoretical work focussed on the electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), a fundamental electrochemical reaction relevant in both corrosion as well as energy conversion processes. At metal surfaces the ORR is the cathodic partial reaction driving many corrosion processes. On the other hand, the ...

Cracking of structural materials is undoubtedly a very dangerous, often catastrophic issue in structural materials. For the understanding of the cracking behavior of materials the nucleation and initial growth is of special importance and often the decisive step for the evolution of a macroscopic crack. This is true on one hand, for cracking processes inside the bulk as it may occur during aging of materials. On the other hand many cracks initiate and start on the surface or the surface-near region as for example in the case of stress-corrosion cracking (SCC).

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on metals can be used as molecular models for polymers on metals. For studies of the metal/organic interface, they offer the advantage of a well-defined linkage between organic material and metal, as well as the well-known atomistic/molecular structure on both sides of the interface. Based on the long-term experience in surface modification and electrochemistry, we have investigated reactions at SAM/metal, as well as at metal/SAM interfaces in electrolyte. Electrochemical desorption/readsorption studies reveal important results concerning the nature of the interfacial interactions between a chemisorbed monolayer and a metallic substrate. Besides defining the applicable potential range for SAM modified electrodes, these reactions can be seen as a molecular model for the destruction of a metal/polymer interface.

High temperature corrosion represents a vitally studied research field and fundamental understanding of the underlying mechanisms of material degradation is still a necessity to face upcoming challenges in modern energy politics. Our current research activities in this field aim on a better understanding of the early stages of material degradation, especially on the changes of the surface conditions of the material under investigation. Many efforts have been undertaken to establish an accurate definition of process parameters to generate well-characterized exposures for a large variety of experimental possibilities.