His research group is working on materials and concepts for new electrochemical energy storage and conversion devices. The activities of the group are devoted to transport properties and reactions in mixed conducting solids and in solid electrolytes – and particularly on interfaces and their kinetics. In addition to cell concepts based on metal-oxygen (Li/O2, Na/O2) and metal-sulfur (Li/S8, Na/S8) reactions, current research focuses on all solid-state batteries. Analytical studies on the formation of interphases at battery anodes and cathodes complete the activities.

Since 2011 Prof. Janek is also in charge of BELLA, the BASF-KIT joint laboratory at the Institute of Nanotechnology (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, KIT) where systematic studies on cell reactions in lithium ion batteries (LIB) are conducted and materials for optimized LIBs are developed.

Prof. Janek leitet seit 2011 darüber hinaus das BASF-KIT-Gemeinschaftslabor BELLA am Institut für Nanotechnologie des KIT (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology), wo systematische Untersuchungen zu den Zellreaktionen von Lithiumionenbatterien (LIB) und Materialentwicklungen für verbesserte LIB durchgeführt werden.