Vorträge-Koll

L. Aymans: Mixed-metal monophosphate tungsten bronzes and mixed-metal layered monophosphate tungsten bronzes Monophosphate tungsten bronzes (MPTBs, (WO3)2m(PO2)4, 2 ≤ m ≤ 12) and layered monophosphate tungsten bronzes (L-MPTBs, Ba(PO4)2WmO3m-3, 2 ≤ m ≤ 5) constitute a family of oxide compounds with strongly anisotropic physical properties as a result of W5+/6+ mixed valency. Some MPTBs and L-MPTBs allow heterovalent substitution of W5+ by appropriate mixtures (Mn+/W6+) leading to mixed-metal mm-MPTBs and mm-L-MPTBs. M. McKee: Translation of molecular catalysts into highly functional interfaces for small molecule activation Sustainable electrocatalysis is a promising approach for developing efficient and environmentally friendly chemical transformations by leveraging molecular catalysts. This research explores the translation of molecular catalysts into functional interfaces for small molecule activation, focusing on CO2 reduction, C-N bond formation, and nitrogen reduction.

Prof. Dr. Jan Behrends, FU Berlin: Spins at Work in Energy Conversion and Storage Devices .......................

Inorganic Materials as Driving Force for the Circular Economy Replacing crude oil as the primary industrial source of carbon-based chemicals has become crucial for both environmental and resource sustainability reasons. In this scenario, wood arises as an excellent candidate, whilst depolymerization approaches have emerged as promising strategies to unlock the biomass potential as a resource in the production of high-value organic chemicals. However, similar to CO2 reduction and solar fuels4, this requires the discovery of novel electrochemically-active materials and/or chemical processes based on renewable energy in order to drive sustainable technologies. In this talk, I will highlight the importance of materials and process design on chosen examples. With respect to the circular economy, I will also discuss the critical role of materials for hydrogen storage and sustainable recycling strategies for Li-ion batteries, covering both academic research and industrial progress.

Metal-Free Molecules as Electrocatalysts and Co-electrocatalysts There is continuously expanding interest in developing new electrocatalytic processes as an approach to harness intermittent electricity from renewable sources. Molecular systems are useful to understand and develop fundamental principles of these reactions through mechanistic study, as well as offer the possibility for testing structure-function relationships through iterative synthetic design. Broadly, the fundamental understanding of molecular species as electrocatalysts has relevance to the interconversion of electricity and chemical energy, as well as commodity chemical production. However, in order for homogeneous systems to eventually be scalable, their activity and stability must be improved. In naturally occurring enzymes, redox equivalents (electrons, often in a concerted manner with protons) are delivered to enzyme active sites by small molecules known as redox mediators (RMs).

Prof. Dr. Douglas Philp, University of St Andrews, UK: Titel wird noch bekannt gegeben .................

Prof. Dr. Yang Yang, UC Santa Barbara, USA Titel wird noch bekannt gegeben ...................................

From molecules to materials: structure-property correlation in functional materials Functional molecular materials are at the heart of emerging technologies in sensing, optoelectronics, and smart materials. Their macroscopic properties often result from collective phenomena in the solid state, making their rational design both complex and rewarding. This seminar will focus on the development and understanding of such materials through a multidisciplinary approach combining synthesis, quantum crystallography, and theoretical modeling. A central theme will be the exploration of structure–property relationships in the crystalline phase, with emphasis on how non-covalent interactions drive self-assembly and control photophysical properties. Luminescent materials exhibiting aggregation-induced emission (AIE) will be presented as model systems, alongside pressure-responsive systems showing pressure-induced emission enhancement (PIEE).

Prof. Dr. Giovanni Appendino, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy: The lab is a curious place. Things that shaped chemistry and you would not believe could have happened there

Crossing the Border - Structural Chemistry around the Zintl Line Alkali metal Zintl phases can be traced back to the investigative works of Eduard Zintl himself, who reported on the structural characterization of textbook-known sodium thallide (NaTl) already in 1932. Interestingly, thallium, as a group 13 element, is located to the left of the so-called Zintl line, which separates the p-block elements concerning the formation of either salt(-like) or metallic compounds in intermetallic materials of the alkali or alkaline earth metals. In my talk, we will cross the Zintl-line. Solution and crystallization studies of group 14 element Zintl salts in liquid ammonia will be introduced.