@inproceedings{MbuaMuellerRichteretal., author = {Mbua, Roy and M{\"u}ller, Klaus and Richter, Matthias and Henkel, Karsten and Paloumpa, Ioanna and Schmeißer, Dieter and Kramm, Ulricke}, title = {Investigation of new Catalysts for PEM Fuel Cells}, series = {Verhandlungen der Deutschen Physikalischen Gesellschaft, Reihe 6, Bd. 46}, booktitle = {Verhandlungen der Deutschen Physikalischen Gesellschaft, Reihe 6, Bd. 46}, publisher = {Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft}, address = {Bad Honnef}, issn = {0420-0195}, pages = {S. 483}, abstract = {Increasing green house emissions amplify global warming concerns worldwide. Fuel cells, based on polymer electrolyte membranes (PEM) are part of the solution to this issue. We aim at developing and testing new catalysts for fuel cells. Platinum catalysts perform best in PEM fuel cells to date but they are very expensive. For fuel cells to be perfectly applicable and economically affordable, an alternative catalyst with similar or even greater efficiency should be developed. Metal phthalocyanines are known to be good oxygen reduction catalysts and are associated with high electron transfer properties. We investigated Cobalt Phthalocyanine in its pure state mixed with Carbon Black (CoPc:Carbon Black=1:9) untreated and also after a treatment in N2 at several temperatures, up to 1000°C for 30 minutes. Results of XPS and EDX analyses reveal that the treatment at higher temperatures causes a rearrangement in the chemical states of Co, N and C atoms. Furthermore, results of cycling voltammetry (CV) analysis reveal that CoPc treated in N2 at 800°C exhibited a higher current density, in conclusion, a higher catalytic activity than the untreated CoPc.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{PhilipMuellerRichteretal., author = {Philip, Shine and M{\"u}ller, Klaus and Richter, Matthias and Kunst, Marinus and Schmeißer, Dieter}, title = {Study of excited states and a model for exciton-polaron interaction in P3HT}, series = {Verhandlungen der Deutschen Physikalischen Gesellschaft, Reihe 6, Bd. 47}, booktitle = {Verhandlungen der Deutschen Physikalischen Gesellschaft, Reihe 6, Bd. 47}, publisher = {Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft}, address = {Bad Honnef}, issn = {0420-0195}, abstract = {Organic semiconductors efficiently harvest light in the region of the solar spectrum due to a high absorption/extinction coefficient.In our work we study the electronic structure and the charge carrier dynamics of polymeric organic semiconductor regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophen-2,5-diyl) (P3HT), an ideal p-type semiconductor and a widely used conjugated polymer, and blends with the fullerene derivative phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM), an electron acceptor material. The study was done with the help of time resolved microwave conductivity (TRMC) for contactless investigation of bulk carrier dynamics, optical spectroscopy, ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy(UPS) and high resolution X-ray absorption spectroscopy(XAS) which investigates excited states of rr-P3HT. From the data obtained we could infer the positions of the valence and conduction band, the existence of two excitons as well as the co-existence of one dimensional and two dimensional polarons. Based on our spectroscopic data we propose a model in which the scattering of virtual polarons and excitons are shown to create mobile polaronic charge carriers.}, language = {en} } @misc{RathmannBilzHurrelmannetal., author = {Rathmann, Katharina and Bilz, Ludwig and Hurrelmann, Klaus and Kiess, Wieland and Richter, Matthias}, title = {Is being a "small fish in a big pond" bad for students´ psychosomatic health? A multilevel study on the role of class-level school performance}, series = {BMC Public Health}, volume = {18}, journal = {BMC Public Health}, issn = {1471-2458}, doi = {10.1186/s12889-018-5977-5}, pages = {13}, abstract = {Background. Features of schools and classes are closely related to students´ health and wellbeing. However, class composition (e.g. in terms of school performance) has rarely been examined in relation to students´ health and wellbeing. This study focuses on the so called Big-Fish-Little-Pond-Effect (BFLPE), by investigating whether the level of high-performing students in classroom is negatively associated with psychosomatic complaints of students who perceive themselves as poor performers. Methods. Data were derived from the German sample of the WHO-Collaborative "Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC)" study 2013/2014. The sample included 5226 11-, 13- and 15-year-old students. Individual perceived school performance (PSP) was included (very good/good vs. average/below average PSP) at the individual student-level. At the class-level, school performance in class was generated by aggregating the share (in percentage) of students who report a very good/good PSP to the class-level, indicating the percentage of students with good/very good PSP in classroom. Using multilevel regression models, the association between class-level school performance (in percentage of students with very good/good PSP) and individual psychosomatic complaints were analyzed, stratified by students´ individual PSP. Results. Students who report average/below average PSP showed higher likelihoods of psychosomatic complaints (Odds Ratio: 1.75; 95\% Confidence Interval: 1.52-2.03) compared to counterparts with very good/good PSP. The aggregated class-level PSP was not significantly associated with psychosomatic complaints. However, in line with the BFLPE, results further revealed that students with average/below average PSP, who attend classes with a higher percentage of students who report very good/good PSP, had higher likelihoods of psychosomatic complaints (Odds Ratio: 1.91; 95\% Confidence Interval: 1.01-4.01) compared to classmates with very good/good PSP. Conclusions. This study revealed that class composition in terms of PSP was differentially associated with students´ psychosomatic complaints, depending on their individual PSP. Findings highlight the vulnerability of students with poor PSP placed in classes with a higher percentage of students with good PSP. Results of this study therefore indicate a need for initiatives for low performing students from teachers and school staff in class.}, language = {en} } @misc{RathmannHerkeBilzetal., author = {Rathmann, Katharina and Herke, Max and Bilz, Ludwig and Rimpel{\"a}, Arja and Hurrelmann, Klaus and Richter, Matthias}, title = {Class-level school performance and life satisfaction: Differential sensitivity for low- and high-performing school-aged children}, series = {International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health}, volume = {15}, journal = {International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health}, number = {12}, issn = {1660-4601}, doi = {10.3390/ijerph15122750}, pages = {17}, abstract = {This study investigates whether class-level school performance affects students' life satisfaction and if there are differential effects for high- and low-performing students. Data were derived from the National Educational Panel Study, including n = 5196 students (49.6\% girls), nested in 478 classes and 250 secondary schools. School performance in class was measured by aggregating individual grade point average in Mathematics and German. The study could not reveal the "big-fish-little-pond"-effect regarding students' life satisfaction but found differential effects for high- vs. low performing students. There was no significant association for low-performing students attending classes with higher class-level performance However, low-performing students revealed the lowest life satisfaction. High-performing students placed in classes with higher average performance reported lower life satisfaction compared to high-performing students in classes with lower average performance. This study provides evidence for the impact of the learning environment in class on school-aged children's life satisfaction, by highlighting the differential sensitivity of high-performing students when placed in classes with higher or lower average performance.}, language = {en} }