Schnepf group: Inorganic Chemistry
The research focus of Andreas Schnepf's experimental working group deals with the synthesis and characterization of nanoscale metalloid cluster compounds of the heavy group 14 elements Ge and Sn as well as the precious metals gold and silver. Metalloid clusters of the general formulae MnRm (n > m; M = metal like Al, Au, Sn etc.; R = substituent like S-C6H4-COOH, N(SiMe3)2 etc.) are ideal model compounds to enlighten the nanoscaled area between molecules and the solid state at an atomic scale. Via the synthesis and characterization of metalloid clusters one gets access to the structural properties of metal nanoparticles and additionally the fundamental processes of the formation or dissolutions of metals is enlightened on an atomic level. For the synthesis of the cluster compounds we use classical (Ag, Au) and novel reduction routes (Ge, Sn), which are based on the reactivity of metastable M(I)halide solutions (M = Ge, Sn). The metastable solutions are thereby obtained via a preparative co-condensation technique and are thus novel subvalent group 14 reagents opening the door to new synthetic routes within group 14 chemistry.
Further information is available from the home-page of the working group of Andreas Schnepf.