Reinhard Denecke

Reinhard Denecke is a Professor of Physical Chemistry of Surfaces at the Wilhelm Ostwald Institute for Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Leipzig. His research focuses on molecular adsorption and reaction dynamics on metal surfaces, contributing to fundamental understanding of heterogeneous catalysis, and extends to studying magnetic, electrical, and geometric properties of oxide interfaces in layered systems. He employs advanced methods like photoelectron spectroscopy and in-situ techniques.

• Education: Doctorate in Physics (Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, 1996), Habilitation in Physical Chemistry (2004).
• Teaching: Courses in basic physical chemistry, spectroscopy, and surface research.

Research Interests include surface science, catalysis, and materials characterization. His projects involve:

• In-situ photoelectron spectroscopy of solid-state electrolysis cells
• Synthesis and characterization of materials for OER electrocatalysis
• Magnetic and spectroscopic studies of multiferroic layer systems
• Geometric and magnetic short-range order in ferroic thin films

His work is supported by DFG, EU ESF, and institutional funding. He leads the Physical Chemistry of Surfaces division and has directed the Wilhelm Ostwald Institute since 2019.