By summer student, Abdelrahman Mohamed Ishmael >
My journey to Berlin started two years before joining HZB when I planned to get an international internship during my undergraduate life and worked strictly to make my dreams true. The first time I wandered Berlin streets, I was fascinated with its green natural sceneries and vibrant places inside. I felt no culture shock: What I have heard from travelers about the human and cultural diversity in Berlin has helped me cope more quickly as if I lived there before.
Searching for stability
I needed no time to get involved with the lab mates in the Young Investigator Group for Oxygen Evolution Mechanism Engineering. I was working on water splitting via electrolysis for producing green hydrogen. One important part is the oxygen evolution reaction which needs to be optimized and takes place at an electrode made of Bismuth vanadate. My task was to identify the global maximum in the stability and efficiency of this photoelectrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction using AI-guided Bayesian optimization.
Harvesting results
Although it was somehow boring to do the same two-hour-long experiment of electrodeposition for each piece of Fluorine-doped Tin Oxide (FTO) and produce twenty samples to optimize its parameters, it was worth it to harvest the results and see the whole setup of the photoelectrocatalytic OER working properly with reasonable stability and good efficiency. Thanks to my supervisors for their patience in answering my non-ending questions and their unwavering support during this short time at HZB. I also extend my gratitude to my supervisors in Egypt for guiding me through the journey.
Work-life balance and team work
The thing I found appealing here is the work-life balance that people appreciate and make the most of their free time to keep more productive and clear-headed work. The other fascinating feature of the research group is that people with diverse backgrounds work together instead of the one-man show. This is still my first step outside my country, but it will not be the last given the experiences I have gained both inside and outside the lab.
On the author: Abdelrahman M. Ishmael is a fresh graduate with Bachelor of Nanomaterials Science and its Applications from the Faculty of Science at Benha University in Egypt. His current research interests are energy storage and conversion.