Research

Research Priorities: electron transfer, catalysis, organometallic chemistry, electron storage

Didier Astruc is a French chemist working in the field of catalysis and nanoscience. His research focuses on organometallic chemistry and electron transfer processes.

He developed the concept of “electron reservoirs” (electron-reservoir complexes), which is applied to useful stoichiometric and catalytic electron transfer reactions. He also extended the profile of his research group towards nanoscience by devoting himself to the chemistry of gold and palladium nanoparticles. Astruc developed applications in molecular electronics, molecular recognition and catalysis, such as using water as a solvent in the field of green chemistry.

Career

• 2008 Gauss Professorship, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
• 1990-1991 Visiting Professor, University of California, Berkeley, USA
• since 1983 Full Professor, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
• 1980 Assistant Professor, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
• 1977 Postdoctoral Fellow, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, USA
• 1975 PhD in chemistry, Université de Rennes, Rennes, France
• 1970 Degree in chemistry, Université de Rennes, Rennes, France

Functions

• 2002-2005 President, Coordination Chemistry Division, Société Chimique de France (SCF), France
• 2000-2008 Member, French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), Paris, France
• 1995-2005 Senior Member, Academic Institute of France (IUF), France

Honours and Memberships

• since 2015 Distinguished Member, SCF, France
• 2012 Member, National Committee for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), France
• since 2010 Member, European Academy of Sciences and Arts
• 2009 Gold Medal, Italian Chemical Society, Italy
• 200 Joint Prize, Italian and French Chemical Societies, Italy and France
• since 2007 Member, European Academy of Sciences (EURASC)
• since 2006 Member, German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, Germany
• since 2006 Member, Academia Europaea
• since 2005 Fellow, Royal Society of Chemistry, UK
• 2000 Le Bel Prix, SCF, France
• 1995 Iberdrola Science and Technology Prize, Iberdrola, S.A., Bilbao, Spain
• 1988 Gay-Lussac Humboldt Prize, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Germany