Scientists at the MPIE

Dr. Frank Uwe Renner is head of the group “Interface Structures and High-tem-perature reactions” at the department “Interface Chemistry and Surface Engineering” since 2007. During his PhD Renner started to look at initial stages of electrochemical corrosion mainly employing in-situ X-ray diffraction using synchrotron light. Currently, he focuses on nanometer and atomic-scale structural studies of surfaces and interfaces in contact with electrolytes and corrosive gas atmospheres. His current re-search projects include amongst others dealloying reactions and selective dissolution of alloys, corrosion of amorphous and nanocrystalline steels, and experiments at synchrotron light sources.

Dr. Mira Todorova, born in Sofia (Bulgaria), joined the department “Computational Materials Design” at the end of 2006. During her dissertation “Oxidation of Palladium Surfaces” she worked in Berlin, before going to Sydney (Australia) for a two years postdoc, partly funded by a fellowship from the Fritz-Haber-Institut of the Max Planck Society. Todorova’s studies combine electronic structure calculations with thermodynamic concepts, focusing among others on surface structures and their stability, oxidation and corrosion.