Birgit Esser

Prof. Dr. Birgit Esser is a Professor of Organic Chemistry at the University of Ulm, affiliated with the Institute of Organic Chemistry II and Advanced Materials. Her research focuses on organic synthesis, energy storage systems, and optoelectronic materials. She leads the Esser Lab, which explores redox polymers, organic batteries, and supramolecular chemistry. Notable projects include developing high-voltage organic-inorganic photo-batteries and high-capacity aluminum/magnesium batteries. She has supervised numerous PhD and master’s students, including Dr. Robin Weßling and Dr. Rekha Sharma.

Her ERC Consolidator Grant (2023) funds the NanOBatt project on nanostructured organic batteries. Recent publications highlight advancements in electrode materials, energy conversion, and electrolyte design. The lab is located at M25 (rooms 3401-3410), O25/O26, and the POLiS Cluster of Excellence building in Ulm.

• Key Research Themes: Triboelectric energy harvesting, redox polymers, organic-inorganic hybrid systems.
• Collaborations: Includes work with Prof. Oliver Dumele on antiaromatic materials and Prof. Theresa Schoetz via the POLiS Award.
• Lab Members: Active group includes postdocs, PhD students, and visiting scientists from institutions like the University of Illinois.

Recent achievements include successful PhD defenses (Maximilian Schmidt, Gauthier Studer, Robin Weßling) and multiple high-impact publications in journals like Energy & Environmental Science and Advanced Functional Materials.