College of Engineering News • Iowa State University

German student finds new research avenues and experiences at Iowa State

German exchange student Johannes Betz conducts research in the glass and optical materials research lab
Johannes Betz conducts research in the glass and optical materials lab.

What brings a student all the way to Ames, Iowa from Münster, Germany? For Johannes Betz, it was the promise of expanding his battery research and achieving his goals of creating a sustainable future.

Pursuing a master’s degree, Betz knew he wanted to expand his studies and go abroad. He reached out to his professors in Germany, asking them if they knew of research groups that would allow him to pursue his interest in batteries, solid electrolytes, and glasses. This led him to two groups: Distinguished Professor in Materials Science and Engineering Steve Martin’s Glass and Optical Materials Group here at Iowa State University, and another research group in England. Betz said he chose Martin’s group because it would allow him to delve deeper into his interests.

“I just would have been studying and not really doing research [in England],” said Betz. “It was just a general chemistry study there, and that’s not what I wanted. I wanted to go deeper into my subject and learn more about batteries.”

Betz pursued chemistry and specifically battery research because he was interested in saving the environment and building upon sustainability efforts. He felt the chemistry field would provide him with the most interesting and challenging paths for exploration. He was introduced to physical and electro-chemistry early in his academic career and looked at where he could continue his study in those areas.

His desire to combine his interests in physical and electro-chemistry and apply them to improve sustainability and battery storage led him to the University of Münster, where their battery research center is one of the leading establishments for battery research.

“I want to improve sustainability and the energy system as a whole,” said Betz of his future plans. “The whole energy system is a little bit wrecked at the moment, and we need a lot more storage possibilities for renewable energy. Stationary batteries are one of the ways we can do that.”

Betz has been able to expand on this research since arriving in Ames on January 20. Working with the ion-conducting glass sodium borosilicate, Betz uses impedance spectroscopy to measure the impedance, or the frequency of the ambivalent voltage, which is applied to the glass. There are different batches of glass and Betz hopes to improve the mechanical stability and the conductivities of the glasses through these studies.

His research here also presented Betz with an interesting opportunity to learn how to melt glasses himself.

“You have to heat up different kinds of chemicals and powders together at 1000°C (or 1832°F), and it is very challenging,” Betz said. “You need special protection. The goal is for the melt to form the glass, and to do that it needs to cool down to a certain temperature as quickly as possible. After that, you have let it cool down to room temperature as slow as necessary to prevent it from cracking. It’s an intricate two-step process.”

Betz has had the opportunity to work with most of the members of Dr. Martin’s Glass and Optical Materials research group. Specifically, a group of about four students were working on the same types of glasses as Betz and so he was able to fit in with their projects seamlessly. With his unique schedule, Betz has been able to conduct research in a way that might have proven difficult for some of his peers.

“With classes, it can be difficult to actually do the experiments I’m doing,” Betz said. “To get the proper measurements, we sputter the glasses with gold, which helps us get rid of the large amounts of surface resistance present. It takes at least two and a half hours and you have to be there for most of the time. So if you have classes, it is kind of difficult to accomplish a lot over the day.”

Betz enjoyed some deep-dish pizza on a trip to Chicago during spring break
Betz enjoyed some deep-dish pizza on a trip to Chicago.

When he was not conducting research, Betz could usually be found with his roommate, materials engineering student Carter Francis. Betz spent a few weekends with Francis and his brother Taylor in their Minnesota hometown, where Betz went cross-country skiing and watched volleyball and hockey games. Over spring break the trio went on a trip to Denver and Estes Park, Colorado. Betz’s brother was able to join them for that trip, and the four enjoyed the snowy sights and sound of the mountains.

Here in Iowa, Betz was able to visit Des Moines and ride his bike around Ames. He enjoyed visiting State Gym and was able to attend an Iowa State Cyclones basketball game at Hilton Coliseum when the team played TCU. Betz noticed the difference between the U.S. and Germany when it came to college sports.

“We don’t really have college sports in Germany,” he said. “I think there are college teams, but they aren’t as popular. You don’t wear a lot of clothes from your university because you support your teams or anything like that.”

Francis has been by Betz’s side for many of these adventures, and it is a bond that Betz cherishes.

“I’m very glad that I had Carter around,” said Betz. “He’s just been very helpful in every way. He was there for me and helped me out. Actually, I think without him I would have had a lot of problems in the beginning with being alone and not really knowing anyone.”

Betz will get a chance to return the hospitality this summer when Francis heads to Germany for a summer research experience. Betz hopes to take Francis around Münster via bike, particularly to see the city center and the beautiful surrounding areas. Betz said that Francis is looking forward to riding a high-speed train and Betz hopes the two can visit Berlin and some other favorite spots of Betz’s. He also plans to take Francis to see the Betz family.

“My parents are quite interested in meeting him because I’m telling everyone how great he is,” Betz said.

While Betz is looking forward to returning to Germany and seeing his family and his girlfriend, there are a few things about America and Ames that he will miss.

“I think I will miss the people I got to know here,” Betz said. “And I’m not sure if this a thing particular to Ames or if it’s more general, but I have the feeling people are more relaxed here. It’s like, if something bad happens, if it won’t kill you, you can solve it, and I’ll miss that mentality.”

Betz also happened to single out a particular beverage he will miss when he leaves Ames at the end of May.

“I just love ginger beer! And root beer as well,” Betz said. “When I found out we could get it at Hyvee, I was very excited.”

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