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Wilhelm-Ostwald-Institute for Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
Physical Chemistry in Leipzig and beyond is strongly connected with the name Wilhelm Ostwald. Together with Swante Arrhenius, Jacobus Henricus van’t Hoff and Walter Nernst he founded the field of Physical Chemistry. Since 1871 the Chair for Physical Chemistry existed in Leipzig – it was the first Chair for Physical Chemistry in Leipzig. Ostwald was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1909 for his groundbreaking work on reaction equilibria and –rates and its applications for catalysis. Currently research at the Wilhelm-Ostwald-Institute is connected to the faculty’s strategic fields materials, catalysis and energy.
News
On Mai 30th at 17.00 there is the Wilhelm-Jost-lecture with Prof. Jürgen Janek to the topic "Elektrochemische Energiespeicherung: Im Spannungsfeld zwischen Grundlagen und Anwendungen". WOI-Kolloquium
Dr. Yu Jing, young scientist in the group of Professor Thomas Heine, received the Marie-Sklodovska-Curie grant of the European Union. For two years, her research about covalent organic frameworks (COF) is supported. These compounds could be used as catalysts for the production of hydrogen from water using sunlight. Aim of her research is to find suitable COFs and to optimise these.
Press Statement
Production of pure deuterium and removal of tritium from nuclear waste are the key challenges in separation of light isotopes. Present methods are extremely cost- and energy-intensive. An international scientist team presents a novel metal organic framework with a Cu(I) active site. This new material can separate D2 and T2 from an hydrogen gas mixture effectively. Selectivity for the separation of D2 is uniquely high.
I. Weinrauch et al., Nat. Commun. 8 (2017), 14496
Press Statement (German)
Scientists of the Wilhelm-Ostwald-Institute for Physical and Theoretical Chemistry created a molecular ball-bearing and are the first to also give spectroscopical evidence for its agility.
Scientific Paper
German Version of Scientific Paper
Press Statement (German)
Interview with Radio Mephisto 97.6
Working Groups
- Prof. Dr. Bernd Abel “Chemical Engineering of Polymers” (The chair is a bridge professorship and joint appointment of the Leipzig University and the Leibniz-Institute of Surface Modification (IOM))
- Prof. Dr. Knut Asmis "Clusters, Nanoparticles and Liquid Surfaces”
- Prof. Dr. Reinhard Denecke “X-ray and Photoelectron Spectroscopy, Surface Analysis”
- Prof. Thomas Heine "Theoretical Chemistry of Complex Systems"