Chemical modification of surfaces

Prof. Dr. Klaus Köhler

Research Profile:

The work focuses on the preparation, structural characterization and catalytic properties of transition metal compounds on surfaces of solids (interfacial coordination chemistry / surface organometallic chemistry). The synthesis of solids and the modification of their surface centres aim on the development of materials with new and tailored (surface) properties and of new heterogeneous catalysts. Catalytic reactions include both gas and liquid phase reactions (selective catalytic reduction of nitric oxides, selective oxidation of hydrocarbons, carbon-carbon coupling reactions). The optimization of catalysts and reaction parameters and the understanding of reaction mechanisms are a main focus in the development of new catalysts for fine chemical synthesis.

Further Research Interests:

Development of preparation methods for heterogeneous catalyst systems
High-throughput synthesis and catalysis
Structural characterization and reactivity of surface complexes
Synthesis and characterization of new solid materials with tailored surface properties
Catalyst characterization (AFM, REM, XRD, BET, TPD, DSC, TG-MS)
In situ-spectroscopy (IR, EPR)