Targeted Synthesis of Inorganic Materials
Our research is focused on the targeted synthesis of functional inorganic materials and the development of novel synthetic techniques. Transition metal oxides play an essential role in the development of a future nanotechnology. We aim for their clear-cut, reliable and efficient synthesis as building blocks, such as anisotropic particles with nanoscale dimensions or tailor-made molecular entities. This leads to the synthesis of polyoxometalates (POMs) and their incorporation into organic-inorganic composites. The combination of naturally occurring fibrous bio-inorganic substrates and biomacromolecules with transition metal oxides and POMs open up an unexplored research area.
A wide spectrum of synthetic techniques is applied, including hydrothermal approaches, chimie douce and gas phase methods. It is amended by a large variety of analytical tools, such as different X-ray diffraction and spectroscopic techniques together with electron microscopy. We work in an interdisciplinary environment that is continuously inspired by Organic Chemistry, Bio-Inorganic Chemistry and Physical Chemistry.
Our current work includes the following topics: