Research

Research Priorities: Inorganic chemistry, solid-state chemistry, SiBNC high-performance ceramic, synthesis planning, non-metal and metal oxides

Martin Jansen is a German chemical scientist. He has done extraordinary work in the area of inorganic solid-state and molecular chemistry. Using basic research and theoretical work on the structural prediction and synthesis planning of new chemical compounds he succeeded in developing a special ceramic for use as a high-performance material.

Martin Jansen’s research applies to the field of inorganic solid-state chemistry and explores in detail the chemical reactions and properties of certain solids that – aside from a few exceptions – do not contain carbon. His research is particularly focused on the structures and physical characteristics of oxygen compounds with metals and non-metals, known as “metal and non-metal oxides”.

Martin Jansen links his experimental method with theoretical work in order to predict the structure of chemical molecules and plan the artificial production of new molecules. In doing so he laid the foundation for the development of new materials. He especially concentrated on developing a special high-performance ceramic that can replace metal materials such as steel. This opens up new applications, for example in aircraft construction or aerospace technology.

Career

• 2012-2020 Guest Fellow, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids, Dresden, Germany
• 1998-2012 Director, Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, Stuttgart, Germany
• 1998-2012 Honorary Professor, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
• 1987-1998 Professor and Institute Director, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
• 1981-1987 Professor, Chair of Inorganic Chemistry, Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz University Hannover, Hanover, Germany
• 1978 Habilitation, Justus Liebig University Giessen (JLU), Giessen, Germany
• 1973 Doctorate, Justus Liebig University Giessen (JLU), Giessen, Germany
• 1966-1970 Degree in Chemistry, Justus Liebig University Giessen (JLU), Giessen, Germany

Projects

• 2006-2014 Head, Subproject “High pressure and high temperature synthesis and in-situ characterization of new compounds with special electronic transport properties, using ‘lone-pair’ oxides, fluorides, sulphides and selenides of elements from groups 14-16”, Priority Programme (SPP) 1236, German Research Foundation (DFG), Germany
• 2004-2011 Head, Subproject “Electrocrystallisation of binary and ternary lanthanide oxides in unusual valence states”, SPP 1166, DFG, Germany
• 1996-2003 Head, Subproject “Transferring the sol-gel process to the ammono system to create polyazanes as precursors to nitride and carbon nitride substance systems”, SPP 1008, DFG, Germany
• 1996-1999 Head, Subproject “Characterisation of new, metal-rich ternary transition metal oxides via metal evaporation”, SPP 1010, DFG, Germany

Honours and Memberships

• 2022 Honorary Doctorate, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
• 2019 Otto Hahn Prize, City of Frankfurt am Main, German Chemical Society (GDCh), and German Physical Society (DPG), Germany
• 2009 Centenary Prize, Royal Society of Chemistry, UK
• 2009 Georg Wittig-Victor Grignard Prize, Société Chimique de France (SCF), France
• since 2008 Member, acatech – National Academy of Science and Engineering, Germany
• 2007 Karl Ziegler Prize, German Chemical Society (GDCh), Germany
• 2004 Honorary Doctorate, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) München, Munich, Germany
• 2004 Science Prize, Stifterverband, Germany
• since 2000 Member, German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, Germany
• since 2000 Member, Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, Berlin, Germany
• since 2000 Member, Academia Europaea
• since 1998 Corresponding Member, North Rhine-Westphalian Academy of Sciences, Dusseldorf, Germany
• since 1996 Member, North Rhine-Westphalian Academy of Sciences, Dusseldorf, Germany
• 1996 Alfred Stock Memorial Prize, GDCh, Germany
• 1989 Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize, DFG, Germany