| Introductory Remarks for the Graduiertenkolleg
„Chemistry in Interphases“
Since October 01, 1998, scientists of the Universities of Tübingen
and Stuttgart, who are working in the fields of inorganic, organic, and
physical chemistry, as well as applied physics and computer science combine
their experimental and theoretical expertise in a “Graduiertenkolleg”
with the topic “Chemistry in Interphases – Synthesis, Dynamics,
and Applications of Polymer-Anchored Active Centers”. This Graduiertenkolleg
is funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.
The objective of this Graduiertenkolleg in its third funding period (three
years, starting in October 2004) deals with the synthesis and characterization
of optimized new stationary phases, reactions and separations in the interphase,
and with methodical developments and their optimization. Interphases are
systems in which a stationary and a mobile phase interpenetrate each other
on a molecular scale without forming a homogeneous phase. A stationary
phase consists of an inorganic, organic, or inorganic/organic polymer
and hybrid polymer, respectively, a spacer, and the active centers. In
the case of transformations the reactive centers fulfill the function
of a reaction center (e.g. organometallic complex) and in the case of
separations interaction centers. Mobile components commonly are gaseous,
liquid, or dissolved substrates. The interphase concept offers advantages
in the case of (i) catalytic reactions (the combined advantages of homogeneous
and heterogeneous catalysis without their well-known drawbacks), (ii)
solid phase syntheses in organic chemistry (combinatorial chemistry),
and (iii) the solution of complex chromatographic separation problems.
Quantum-chemical calculations are applied to understand selectivity and
reactivity.
Methods for the characterization of the materials encompass solid-state
and suspended-state NMR spectroscopy, ESR spectroscopy, fluorescence
spectroscopy, extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS and XANES),
different IR and Raman spectroscopic methods, electron spray and MALDI
mass spectroscopy, as well as electron-beam microanalysis (EDX), and BET
measurements. In the presence of redox-active centers electrochemistry
offers an additional characterization method for interphase systems. For
the working up and optimization of synthetic and spectroscopic results
the collected data are processed by neural networks.
The offered research program is supported by an appropriate curriculum.
In a cycle of two years, a series of lectures are addressed to the synthesis
and applications as well as to the structure and dynamics of interphase
systems. Practical courses within the Graduiertenkolleg or in other universities
at home or abroad and compact seminars in the context of the Graduiertenkolleg
as well as a voluntary training program provide an interdisciplinary education.
The research program and the curriculum are streamlined in such a way,
that they cause a considerable shortening of the time for the Ph.D. Thesis.
Due to the required topicality of the research program and the applied
methods, all participants of this Graduiertenkolleg are well equipped
with the necessary knowledge and training to obtain promising positions
in research and development after graduation.
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