Finely dispersed instead of clumped together

New metal phosphide catalyst developed

12-Jul-2024 - The research group led by Lise Meitner group leader Dr. Constanze Neumann has developed a new type of catalyst that could be of interest to the chemical industry. The scientists have published their findings in the journal "Angewandte Chemie International". Transition metal phosphides have been ...

Powering Nitrogenases: New ways for sustainable fertiliser production

New targets for improving biocatalysts

26-Feb-2024 - Nitrogenases are considered promising candidates for the sustainable enzymatic production of ammonia and carbon compounds. One bottleneck in this complex process, the supply of electrons to the enzymes, has remained a mystery until now. Now a team at the Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial ...

Catalysts from Mülheim get „lazy guys“ going

Aliphatic molecules are important for industry, but usually not very reactive. A new catalyst has changed that

17-Jan-2024 - So-called aliphatic hydrocarbons play a major role in the chemical industry, but are not easy to handle from a scientific point of view. These special molecules form precursors of desired substances in many important reactions - for example in the production of gasoline. However, as they have ...

Tobias Erb receives the Leibniz Award 2024

Innovative, interdisciplinary research approach opens up new possibilities for developing technologies to address the global climate crisis

11-Dec-2023 - Prof. Dr. Tobias Erb, Director at the Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology and Professor at the University of Marburg, has been awarded the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize by the German Research Foundation (DFG). The Leibniz Prize is the most important research award in Germany and ...

How lab-made catalysts can help to get a grip on difficult greenhouse gases

09-Nov-2023 - Natural gas consists of light hydrocarbons such as methane and ethane. Such gases are more potent greenhouse gases than CO2, are constantly released into the atmosphere from natural gas wells, and are more difficult to store than, for example, their corresponding alcohols (methanol and ethanol, ...

Unveiling challenges in green hydrogen production

International researcher team reveals adverse effects of hydrogen on catalysts

11-Sep-2023 - The quest for hydrogen as a clean and sustainable energy source has gained momentum. To produce green hydrogen, water must be split into oxygen and hydrogen. This water splitting process is facilitated by electrocatalysts that enhance the chemical reaction rate. Ideally, a catalyst is neither ...

Otto Hahn Medal for chemist Dr Susanne Reischauer

29-Jun-2023 - At its annual meeting in Göttingen, the Max Planck Society awarded the Otto Hahn Medal 2022 to the young scientist Dr Susanne Reischauer. The prize is awarded for outstanding scientific achievements during doctoral studies. Dr. Susanne Reischauer is a chemist who worked at the Max Planck ...

Researchers dive deep into bismuth complexes

Chemists publish startling results in “Science”

23-May-2023 - To be able to exploit the advantages of elements and their molecular compounds in a targeted manner, chemists have to develop a fundamental understanding of their properties. In the case of the element bismuth, a team from the Max Planck Institut für Kohlenforschung has now taken an important ...

New Method to synthesize Menthol

A special catalyst enables a “dream reaction”

20-Mar-2023 - Menthol and cannabinoids are important for the chemical industry. A team led by Prof. Benjamin List has now found a new way to synthesize both substances - cheaper and more efficient than before. Our toothpaste contains it, you can find it in cold remedies, and it makes our chewing gum tasty: ...

Elegant experiments with light

Researchers find a new way to make use of Photoredox Catalysis

27-Jan-2023 - Scientists of the department of Homogeneous Catalysis have found a new elegant way to make use of photoredox catalysis. Researchers of the Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung have expanded the molecular toolbox for efficient, targeted syntheses: To do so, they use a very special catalyst - ...