Prof. Roland A. Fischer (left), Julien Warnan Ph.D. (working group leader WarnanLab@TUM) and Dr. Philip M. Stanley (right) in the laboratory of the WarnanLab working group at the CRC (Central Institute for Catalysis Research at TUM) on the Garching campus. (Photo: Astrid Eckert / TUM)
The German Chemical Society (GDCh) has awarded Professor Dr. Roland A. Fischer, Technical University of Munich, the Wilhelm Klemm Prize. In particular, his outstanding and pioneering contributions to metal-organic networks (MOFs) and his wide-ranging commitment to research, teaching, and science policy are being honored.
Fischer and his working group at the Technical University of Munich have been researching functional materials for energy, catalysis, gas storage, sensor technology, and photonics for 20 years. One focus is on porous coordination polymers, particularly metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). These framework structures, made of metal ions and organic linkers, have huge inner surfaces and can store large quantities of gases. Potential applications include gas storage, separation and purification, catalysis, and sensor technology.
Fischer’s pioneering achievements include the development of novel MOF concepts: In “Metals@MOFs”, he was one of the first to use the porous MOF structure to store catalytically or optically active metal nanoparticles. With “SURMOFs”, he established methods for the controlled deposition of thin MOF films that are suitable for sensor technology or optoelectronics. By introducing semiconductor quantum dots, he created “QDs@MOFs” – promising for light emission or photocatalysis. These creative approaches have added functions to MOFs and opened up new application perspectives.
The award ceremony will take place during the GDCh Science Forum Chemistry (SFC) in Karlsruhe. The Wilhelm Klemm Prize, endowed with 7,500 euros, commemorates Professor Wilhelm Klemm from Münster, who advanced inorganic chemistry with his research. The GDCh awards the prize to individuals who have done outstanding work in the field of inorganic chemistry.
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