Martin Stratmann

Martin Stratmann is a Professor and former Director at the Max Planck Institute for Sustainable Materials (formerly Max Planck Institute for Iron Research) in Düsseldorf, where he led the Department of Interfacial Chemistry and Surface Engineering. He served as President of the Max Planck Society from 2014 to 2023, following positions as Vice President and Section Chairman. His groundbreaking research focuses on corrosion mechanisms and developing self-healing polymer coatings for metal protection.

Research innovations include pioneering use of the scanning Kelvin probe to investigate corrosion under ultra-thin electrolyte films and polymer coatings. This work has led to novel protective coatings that prevent steel corrosion and autonomously repair damage.

Professor Stratmann has received numerous scientific awards recognizing his contributions to corrosion science and surface engineering. His leadership significantly shaped German and European research policy during his Max Planck Society presidency.