About the Institute

In the Institute of Inorganic and Applied Chemistry (IAACh) eight groups are currently working on fundamental and application-oriented questions of molecular and coordination chemistry, catalysis, materials science and theoretical chemistry. The focus is on the following topics:

the activation of small molecules such as CO/CO2 or CH4 (C1-Chemistry, Prof. Burger and Prof. Jacobi von Wangelin)
catalysis with 3d-transition metals, photocatalysis and reactor design (Prof. Jacobi von Wangelin)
nanostructured perovskites and conductive ceramics (JProf. Mascotto)
Fundamental studies on the behaviour of substances in confined spaces (Confinement Effects, Prof. Fröba and Prof. Steiger)
thermochemical heat storage (Prof. Fröba and Prof. Steiger)
hydrogen storage (Prof. Fröba)
the synthesis of new micro- and mesoporous substances (Prof. Fröba)
enantioselective catalysis with amino sugars as ligands (Prof. Heck)
molecular spintronics, molecular magnets and non-linear optical materials (Prof. Herrmann (theory) and Prof. Heck (experimental)).

Prof. Burger is chairman of the staff council of the scientific staff and is being represented in teaching by Dr. Enthaler, who has special expertise in the field of sustainable chemistry (stock preparation, recycling, depolymerization).

The History of the Institute

Originally, chemistry was not a stand-alone discipline but only a component of the natural sciences. Joachim Jungius, professor of physics and logic from 1629 until 1657, studied atomism and thus contributed to the establishment of chemistry as a natural science. In his dissertation entitled “Doxoscopiae Physicae Minores,” he repudiated the 4 elements of antiquity (fire, earth, air, and water) and the 3 of alchemy (mercury, sulfur, and salt) and defined chemical elements as pure substances that could not be broken down into any further component parts. He thus also contradicted the alchemists’ idea of transmuting base metals into gold. With the appointment of Karl Wiebel, chemistry then became an independent discipline. A chemical laboratory was also set up, which was increasingly entrusted with new tasks. In 1878 this laboratory of the Akademisches Gymnasium was transformed into the independent Chemisches Staatslaboratorium. A department of inorganic chemistry was then established after Universität Hamburg was founded. On 1 September 1991, it became the Hamburg Institute of Applied Analytics (IFAA GmbH), which was dissolved in the mid 1990s.

About the Institute

The History of the Institute

Former institute directors

The origins of inorganic chemistry in Hamburg