Professor Dr Ulrich Schubert
- Section Chemistry
- Location Wien, Austria
- Election year 2006
Research
Main research focus: Inorganic Chemistry, Materials Chemistry, metal-silyl complexes, sol-gel processes, inorganic-organic hybrid materials
Ulrich Schubert made seminal scientific contributions to several sub-areas of inorganic and materials chemistry. Earlier work concerned the chemistry of metal-silyl complexes. Particular high impact had his systematic investigations of metal-hydrogen-silicon three-center bonds, which contributed essentially to an understanding of eta2-coordination of single bonds to transition metals in general. The focus of later work was on basic investigations of the chemistry of sol-gel processes, especially in the area of inorganic-organic hybrid materials. Work ranges from syntheses and characterization of new metal alkoxide precursors, the use of metal oxide clusters as nanoscale building blocks to the development of aerogels, nanocomposites and hybrid polymers with novel compositions and structures.
The focus of current work is on preparative and structural aspects of inorganic-organic hybrid materials. In hybrid materials, the properties of inorganic and organic materials are synergetically combined by controlled assembly of molecular and nanoscale building blocks. To this end, inorganic building blocks, such as metal alkoxides or clusters, modified by functional organic groups, play a key role. The proper choice of suitable building blocks not only determines the chemical composition of the materials, but also allows tailoring their microstructure from homogeneous materials to (nano-) composites.
Ulrich Schubert made seminal scientific contributions to several sub-areas of inorganic and materials chemistry. Earlier work concerned the chemistry of metal-silyl complexes. Particular high impact had his systematic investigations of metal-hydrogen-silicon three-center bonds, which contributed essentially to an understanding of eta2-coordination of single bonds to transition metals in general. The focus of later work was on basic investigations of the chemistry of sol-gel processes, especially in the area of inorganic-organic hybrid materials. Work ranges from syntheses and characterization of new metal alkoxide precursors, the use of metal oxide clusters as nanoscale building blocks to the development of aerogels, nanocomposites and hybrid polymers with novel compositions and structures.
The focus of current work is on preparative and structural aspects of inorganic-organic hybrid materials. In hybrid materials, the properties of inorganic and organic materials are synergetically combined by controlled assembly of molecular and nanoscale building blocks. To this end, inorganic building blocks, such as metal alkoxides or clusters, modified by functional organic groups, play a key role. The proper choice of suitable building blocks not only determines the chemical composition of the materials, but also allows tailoring their microstructure from homogeneous materials to (nano-) composites.