Johanna Schröder (KIT)
Johanna Schröder is a tenure-track professor of electrochemical systems in energy supply at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), where she leads a CZS junior research group since 2025. She began her academic career with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in chemistry at the University of Bremen before earning her Ph.D. in 2021 at the University of Bern in the field of PEM water electrolysis and fuel cells. She expanded her focus to alkaline water electrolysis and hydrogen fuel cell systems as a postdoctoral researcher at Stanford University and SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory.
Schröder has received numerous honors for her scientific work including fellowships from the Leopoldina and the Swiss National Science Foundation, which enabled her to conduct research stays in the United States. Through her research, she aims to develop novel, resource-efficient electrocatalysts and bridge the gap between basic research and the real-world operating conditions of electrochemical applications.
In this interview, she discusses how she intends to bridge this gap and what technological challenges drive her.
Interview:
What are you currently working on?
Johanna Schröder: My group and I are conducting research in the field of alkaline water electrolysis with the goal of bridging the gap between basic research on catalyst development and the study of catalyst aging in application-scale devices. At the fundamental level, it is now possible to investigate changes in the catalyst material down to the nanoscale using a wide variety of characterization methods and to develop new materials based on the observed material changes. Characterization during operation is of particular interest here, as it allows us to track material dynamics in real time and directly attribute observed performance drops to specific material changes. However, these new materials rarely make it into practical use in electrolyzers, as their long-term stability under application conditions has been studied little, and material changes in fundamental setups are not directly transferable to actual electrolyzers. We are attempting to close this gap.
What motivates you personally?
Johanna Schröder: I am particularly interested in gaining a better understanding of the mechanisms that govern material activity and decomposition in electrolyzers, and in using this knowledge to develop targeted improvements to materials. My goal is to facilitate the practical application of new materials and to further advance electrolysis as a sustainable technology and a key component of the energy transition.
What challenges do you foresee for yourself in the near future?
Johanna Schröder: A key challenge is the commercial establishment of electrolysis in the context of energy transition as a technical response to climate change. At the same time, it is important to develop solutions that are socially equitable and can be implemented not only in high-income countries but are accessible globally.
What would you like to see for your research in the future?
Johanna Schröder: I would like to see new, holistically designed technical solutions that more closely integrate catalytic knowledge with process engineering implementation. Close international collaboration is also important to me, so that we can efficiently pool knowledge and resources. In the long term, my priority is the successful commercial establishment of technology, so that research results are actually put into practice.
Where do you see your discipline in 5-10 years?
Johanna Schröder: I foresee substantial progress in the resistance of materials to impurities, which will enhance the suitability for everyday use and the broader deployment of electrolyzers, even in regions with weak infrastructure and low incomes. I also foresee the increasing industrial adoption of co-electrolyzers, which will open new possibilities for the sustainable production of fuels and industrial chemicals, as well as reduce the cost of electrolytically produced hydrogen.
ORCID: 0000-0001-5461-4751