Lars Borchardt

Prof. Lars Borchardt is a Professor of Inorganic Chemistry at Ruhr-Universität Bochum since 2019. He leads the Department of Inorganic Chemistry I and focuses on mechanochemistry, catalyst development, and sustainable material synthesis. His research includes direct mechanocatalysis, gas/photo-mechanochemistry, and media-free synthesis, emphasizing eco-friendly energy storage solutions.

Education & Career:

• PhD in Chemistry (summa cum laude, 2013) from TU Dresden
• Habilitation in Inorganic Chemistry (2014), TU Dresden
• Postdoc at ETH Zurich (2013-2014), Advanced Catalysis Engineering
• BMBF Junior Research Group Leader (2015-2022), TU Dresden

Research Interests:

• Mechanochemical synthesis of porous materials and carbides
• Development of catalysts using milling balls
• Sustainable energy storage via mechanochemistry
• Interdisciplinary applications of mechanochemistry in materials science

Awards:

• ERC Starting Grant (2020) for mechanocatalysis research
• Henriette-Herz Scouting Program member (2024)
• MIT Technology Review's T35 Innovators under 35 (2017)

Grants & Funding:

• ERC Proof of Principle Grant for 'MECHANOEXTRUSION' (ongoing)
• BMBF Junior Research Group 'Mechanocarb' (2015-2022)

Labs & Teams: Head of the Borchardt Group at RUB, focusing on mechanochemical innovation and sustainable materials development.