The Bochum-based chemist Professor Wolfgang Schuhmann has been awarded the Alessandro Volta Medal for his pioneering research in electrochemistry. The Electrochemical Society (ECS) awards it every two years for outstanding research work in this field. The Director of the Center for Electrochemical Sciences at Ruhr-Universität Bochum accepted the award on 4 October 2018 at the ECS Meeting in Cancún, Mexico.
ECS cites his numerous innovative developments in basic research and applied electrochemistry as justification for the selection of the prize-winner. Wolfgang Schuhmann designed methods to make electrochemical activities locally visible as well as to carry out electroanalytical measurements on a large scale. He developed innovative biosensors as well as new redox polymers and materials for electrocatalysis and batteries.