Dresden 2026 – scientific programme

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FM: Fachverband Funktionsmaterialien

FM 22: Focus Session: Materials Discovery III – New materials and functionalities by general principles

FM 22.2: Talk

Friday, March 13, 2026, 10:00–10:15, BEY/0138

Topological quantum materials for high performance heterogenous catalysis — •Xia Wang and Claudia Felser — Max-Planck-Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids, Dresden, Germany

The electronic structure of a catalyst plays a pivotal role in governing its performance1. Topological quantum materials, known for their symmetry-protected electronic states, offer a unique platform to bridge solid-state topology and heterogeneous catalysis. When combined with chirality, topological quantum materials give rise to novel material systems exhibiting distinct chiral phenomena, opening new avenues for the development of next-generation chiral catalysts. Situated at the interface of condensed matter physics and chemistry, the emerging field of topological catalysis exploits the exotic quantum properties of topological quantum materials to not only enhance catalytic activity and selectivity but also to enable fundamental studies of reaction mechanisms. Our recent experimental and theoretical work demonstrates a direct link between spin-orbit coupling and the kinetics of oxygen electrocatalysis, including both the oxygen reduction and evolution reactions. Furthermore, we show that external stimuli such as magnetic fields can effectively tune catalytic performance by modifying the topological features of the electronic structure. Together, these insights establish topological quantum materials as a compelling framework for designing high-performance, field-tunable catalysts, with far-reaching implications for asymmetric synthesis to probing the origins of life.

Keywords: Topological quantum materials; Electronic structure; Band topology; Chirality; Heterogeneous catalysis