The primary objective of my group's research program is the design of molecular structures that interconvert electric and chemical bond energy in an efficient manner. As a complementary approach, my research adresses light-to-potential energy conversion through 3d-metal complex photosensitizers. We pursue these objectives by following a mechanistic approach: Starting from molecular PLATFORMs (our toolbox) we create molecular STRUCTUREs and study their FUNCTION at the molecular level.
At present, our portfolio includes bimetallic nickel-sulphur structures that perform hydrogen oxidation (HydrOx project) as well as hydrogen evolution, just depending on the respective charge state. Radical-sulphur/oxygen structures establish a complementary system that promotes H-atom transfer reactivity (CHOx project) in addition to showing intriguing electronic properties such as redox-responsive absorptivity of (near-)infrared light. Last but not least, we have achieved luminescence and photoreactivty from a iron(II) complex chromophore (3d-light project).
