Vice Chair of the Board

Faculty of Chemistry
Technical Chemistry III
 

Contact

Room: ZBT 241
Fon: +49 (0) 203 37 93442
Email: corina.andronescu(at)uni-due.de
Website: https://www.uni-due.de/tech3chem/
 

Researcher Information

ORCID ID: 0000-0002-1227-1209
Scopus ID: 26022908700

 ACTS Methods

• Differential electrochemical mass spectrometry
• Electrocatalysis coupled with down-stream analysis
• Scanning electrochemical cell microscopy

 ACTS Background

• Synthesis of electrocatalyst materials
• Electrochemistry coupled with FT-IR or Raman spectroscopy
• Electrocatalysis for energy conversion and formation of value-added products
• Single entity electrochemistry for the determination of intrinsic electrocatalysts activity

 ACTS Paper Highlights

Santana Santos, C.; Jaato, B. N.; Sanjuán, I.; Schuhmann, W.; Andronescu, C. Operando Scanning Electrochemical Probe Microscopy during Electrocatalysis. Chem. Rev. 2023, 123 (8), 4972–5019. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemrev.2c00766.

Varhade, S.; Tetteh, E. B.; Saddeler, S.; Schumacher, S.; Aiyappa, H. B.; Bendt, G.; Schulz, S.; Andronescu, C.; Schuhmann, W. Crystal Plane‐Related Oxygen‐Evolution Activity of Single Hexagonal Co3O4 Spinel Particles. Chemistry A European J 2023, 29 (12), e202203474. https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.202203474.

Krysiak, O. A.; Schumacher, S.; Savan, A.; Schuhmann, W.; Ludwig, A.; Andronescu, C. Searching Novel Complex Solid Solution Electrocatalysts in Unconventional Element Combinations. Nano Res. 2022, 15 (6), 4780–4784. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-021-3637-z.

Chair of the Board

Faculty of Chemistry
Technical Chemistry I
 

Contact

Room: S07 S01 C26
Fon: +49 (0) 201 18 33150
Email: stephan.barcikowski(at)uni-due.de
Website: https://www.uni-due.de/barcikowski/

Researcher Information

Researcher ID: I-4754-2012
ORCID ID: 0000-0002-9739-7272
Scopus ID: 56219696600

 ACTS Methods

• Synchrotron, temporally resolved in situ SAXS and WAXS (with Plech group, KIT)
• Pump-probe laser experiments (with Glenzer group, Stanford/SLAC)
• Optical in situ spectroscopy on bioconjugate binding
• Surface and bulk composition (XRF, XRD, and XPS)
• Quartz micro balance (adsorption kinetics)

 ACTS Background

Functional Nanoparticles for Catalysis and Biomedicine

• Laser synthesis and processing of colloids
• Dynamics of nanoparticle and surface adsorbate formation
• Alloy nanoparticles in aqueous catalysis and biomedicine
• Defect formation in oxidation catalysis and energy conversion

ACTS Paper Highlights

Zerebecki, S.; Salamon, S.; Landers, J.; Yang, Y.; Tong, Y.; Budiyanto, E.; Waffel, D.; Dreyer, M.; Saddeler, S.; Kox, T.; Kenmoe, S.; Spohr, E.; Schulz, S.; Behrens, M.; Muhler, M.; Tüysüz, H.; Kramer Campen, R.; Wende, H.; Reichenberger, S.; Barcikowski, S. Engineering of Cation Occupancy of CoFe2O4 Oxidation Catalysts by Nanosecond, Single‐Pulse Laser Excitation in Water. ChemCatChem 2022, 14 (10), e202101785. https://doi.org/10.1002/cctc.202101785.

Zerebecki, S.; Schott, K.; Salamon, S.; Landers, J.; Wende, H.; Budiyanto, E.; Tüysüz, H.; Barcikowski, S.; Reichenberger, S. Gradually Fe-Doped Co3O Nanoparticles in 2-Propanol and Water Oxidation Catalysis with Single Laser Pulse Resolution. J. Phys. Chem. C 2022, 126 (36), 15144–15155. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcc.2c01753.

Ziefuss, A. R.; Steenbock, T.; Benner, D.; Plech, A.; Göttlicher, J.; Teubner, M.; Grimm‐Lebsanft, B.; Rehbock, C.; Comby‐Zerbino, C.; Antoine, R.; Amans, D.; Chakraborty, I.; Bester, G.; Nachev, M.; Sures, B.; Rübhausen, M.; Parak, W. J.; Barcikowski, S. Photoluminescence of Fully Inorganic Colloidal Gold Nanocluster and Their Manipulation Using Surface Charge Effects. Advanced Materials 2021, 33 (31), 2101549. https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202101549.

Faculty of Physics
Experimental Physics
 

Contact

Room: MG 154
Fon: +49 (0) 203 37 94566
Fon: +49 (0) 203 37 94533
Email: uwe.bovensiepen(at)uni-due.de
Website: https://www.uni-due.de/agbovensiepen/

Researcher Information

Researcher ID: E-7435-2017
ORCID ID: 0000-0002-1506-4491
Scopus ID: 6603784991

 ACTS Methods

• Non-linear optics
• Photoelectron spectroscopy
• Soft x-ray spectroscopy
• Pump-probe experiments

 ACTS Background

• Ultrafast phenomena
• Surface and interface science
• Electron and spin dynamics in low dimensional systems

ACTS Paper Highlights

Huang, Z.; Bridger, M.; Naranjo-Montoya, O. A.; Tarasevitch, A.; Bovensiepen, U.; Tong, Y.; Campen, R. K. A Femtosecond Time Resolved View of Vibrationally Assisted Electron Transfer across the Metal/Aqueous Interface. arXiv 2023. https://doi.org/10.48550/ARXIV.2304.06684.

Penschke, C.; Thomas, J.; Bertram, C.; Michaelides, A.; Morgenstern, K.; Saalfrank, P.; Bovensiepen, U. Hydration at Highly Crowded Interfaces. Phys. Rev. Lett. 2023, 130 (10), 106202. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.130.106202.

Thomas, J.; Bertram, C.; Daru, J.; Patwari, J.; Langguth, I.; Zhou, P.; Marx, D.; Morgenstern, K.; Bovensiepen, U. Competition between Coulomb and van Der Waals Interactions in Xe − Cs + Aggregates on Cu(111) Surfaces. Phys. Rev. Lett. 2021, 127 (26), 266802. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.127.266802.

Faculty of Physics
Experimental physics
 

Contact

Room: MG 366
Fon: +49 (0) 203 37 94690
Email: richard.campen(at)uni-due.de
Website: https://www.uni-due.de/ag-campen/

Researcher Information

ORCID ID: 0000-0002-7091-2991
Scopus ID: 23391805100

ACTS Methods

update will follow

ACTS Background

update will follow

ACTS Paper Highlights

Huang, Z.; Bridger, M.; Naranjo-Montoya, O. A.; Tarasevitch, A.; Bovensiepen, U.; Tong, Y.; Campen, R. K. A Femtosecond Time Resolved View of Vibrationally Assisted Electron Transfer across the Metal/Aqueous Interface. arXiv 2023. https://doi.org/10.48550/ARXIV.2304.06684.

Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion
Inorganic Spectroscopy
 

Contact

Room: 607
Fon: +49 (0)208 306 3656
Email: serena.debeer(at)cec.mpg.de
Website: https://www.cec.mpg.de/en/research/inorganic-spectroscopy/prof-dr-serena-debeer

Researcher Information

Researcher ID: T-6420-2018
ORCID ID: 0000-0002-5196-3400

 ACTS Methods

• X-ray absorption spectroscopy
• EPR

ACTS Background

update will follow

ACTS Paper Highlights

update will follow

Faculty of Chemistry
Inorganic Chemistry

Contact

Room: S07 S03 C49
Fon: +49 (0) 201 183-3684
Email: sabrina.disch@uni-due.de
Website: https://www.uni-due.de/chemie/ak_disch/ak_disch.php

Researcher Information

Researcher ID: K-7185-2013
ORCID ID: 0000-0002-4565-189X

 ACTS Methods

• X-ray/neutron scattering
• Magnetometry

 ACTS Background

• Nanoparticle surfaces and interfaces
• Self-organization
• Nanostructured electrode materials

ACTS Paper Highlights

Zákutná, D.; Rouzbeh, N.; Nižňanský, D.; Duchoň, J.; Qdemat, A.; Kentzinger, E.; Honecker, D.; Disch, S. Magnetic Coupling in Cobalt-Doped Iron Oxide Core–Shell Nanoparticles: Exchange Pinning through Epitaxial Alignment. Chem. Mater. 2023, 35 (6), 2302–2311. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemmater.2c02813.

Bender, P.; Wetterskog, E.; Salazar-Alvarez, G.; Bergström, L.; Hermann, R. P.; Brückel, T.; Wiedenmann, A.; Disch, S. Shape-Induced Superstructure Formation in Concentrated Ferrofluids under Applied Magnetic Fields. J Appl Crystallogr 2022, 55 (6), 1613–1621. https://doi.org/10.1107/S1600576722010093.

Lak, A.; Disch, S.; Bender, P. Embracing Defects and Disorder in Magnetic Nanoparticles. Advanced Science 2021, 8 (7), 2002682. https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202002682.

Faculty of Chemistry
Electrochemical Surface Science

Contact

Room: S05 T01 B17/B20
Fon: +49 (0) 201 183-305
Email: katrin.domke(at)uni-due.de
Website: https://www.uni-due.de/chemie/akdomke/

Researcher Information

Researcher ID: B-1096-2013
ORCID ID: 0000-0002-4562-6088
 

 ACTS Methods

• Electrochemical tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS),
• Nonlinear Raman spectroscopy (CARS)
• Electrochemical scanning probe microscopy (EC-STM, EC-AFM)
• Electrochemical surface fluorescence microscopy

 ACTS Background

• Electrochemical surface science
• Electrocatalysis
• Operando spectroscopy of individual active sites

ACTS Paper Highlights

Gómez–Marín, A. M.; Domke, K. F. Expanding Our View on Active Sites in Electrocatalysis. Current Opinion in Electrochemistry 2025, 51, 101692. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coelec.2025.101692.

Domke, K. F.; Aragonès, A. C. Playing Catch and Release with Single Molecules: Mechanistic Insights into Plasmon-Controlled Nanogaps. Nanoscale 2023, 15 (2), 497–506. https://doi.org/10.1039/D2NR05448E.

Pfisterer, J. H. K.; Nattino, F.; Zhumaev, U. E.; Breiner, M.; Feliu, J. M.; Marzari, N.; Domke, K. F. Role of OH Intermediates during the Au Oxide Electro-Reduction at Low pH Elucidated by Electrochemical Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy and Implicit Solvent Density Functional Theory. ACS Catal. 2020, 10 (21), 12716–12726. https://doi.org/10.1021/acscatal.0c02752.

Faculty of Chemistry
Theoretical Catalysis and Electrochemistry

Contact

Room: S05 V06 E78
Fon: +49 (0)201 18 32992
Email: kai.exner(at)uni-due.de
Website: https://www.exner-group.com

Researcher Information

Researcher ID: 3060-681
ORCID ID: 0000-0003-2934-6075
Scopus ID: 56501788200

 ACTS Methods

• Density functional theory
• Ab initio molecular dynamics simulations
• Data-driven approaches
• Machine learning techniques

 ACTS Background

Resolving the active sites of solid-state and molecular electrocatalysts on the atomic scale

• Comprehending the elementary reaction steps of electrocatalytic processes
• High-throughput screening of electrode materials and mechanisms
• Solid-state catalysts and molecular (biological) entities

ACTS Paper Highlights

Razzaq, S.; Faridi, S.; Kenmoe, S.; Usama, M.; Singh, D.; Meng, L.; Vines, F.; Illas, F.; Exner, K. S. MXenes Spontaneously Form Active and Selective Single-Atom Centers under Anodic Polarization Conditions. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2025, 147 (1), 161–168. https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.4c08518.

Usama, M.; Razzaq, S.; Hättig, C.; Steinmann, S. N.; Exner, K. S. Oxygen Evolution Reaction on IrO2(110) Is Governed by Walden-Type Mechanisms. Nat Commun 2025, 16 (1), 6137. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61367-z.

Dhaka, K.; Amin, H. M. A.; Beschi, D.; Schellenburg, D.; Mockenhaupt, B.; Barcikowski, S.; Schulz, S.; Exner, K. S. Unifying Scaling Relations and Multiple Reaction Mechanisms for Screening Transition Metal‐Doped Co₃ O₄ for Oxygen Evolution Reaction. Angew Chem Int Ed 2026, e24523. https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202524523.

Faculty of Chemistry
Nanomaterials in Aquatic Systems

Contact

Room: S05 V02 E33
Fon: +49 (0) 201 183 3963
Email: anzhela.galstyan(at)uni-due.de
Website: https://www.uni-due.de/chemie/galstyan-lab/

Researcher Information

ORCID ID: 0000-0003-0309-1078
Scopus ID: 56677507600

 ACTS Methods

• Novel photosensitizers with tailored photophysical features
• Steady-state spectroscopy
• Fluorescence Lifetime Techniques: TCSPC, FRET, TRES
• Photobiology (cells, bacteria, viral surrogates)

 ACTS Background

• Linking nanomaterial composition to reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and photoinduced toxicity.
• Development, fabrication and processing of photoactive polymer materials (nano delivery systems, hydrogels, electrospun membranes)

ACTS Paper Highlights

Galstyan, A.; Terlau, F.; Martin, H. M. Visualizing Active Sites in Electrospun Photoactive Membranes via Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging. Angew Chem Int Ed 2024, e202414412. https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202414412.

Galstyan, A. Tracking Microenvironmental Response on Self‐Assembled Phthalocyanine Systems – Adaptive and Non‐Adaptive Antibacterial Photosensitization. Chemistry A European J 2024, e202401305. https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.202401305.

Vadala, M.; Lupascu, D. C.; Galstyan, A. Fabrication and Characterization of Microporous Soft Templated Photoactive 3D Materials for Water Disinfection in Batch and Continuous Flow. Photochem Photobiol Sci 2024, 23 (4), 803–814. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43630-024-00544-3.

Faculty of Chemistry
Supramolecular Materials

Co-Creationlab

Contact

Room: S07 S00 C21
Fon: +49 (0)201 18 32087
Email: michael.giese(at)uni-due.de
Website: http://www.gieselab.de

Researcher Information

Researcher ID: Y-1590-2019
ORCID ID: 0000-0001-6355-536X
Scopus ID: 45961195700

 ACTS Methods

• In-situ optical spectroscopy (IR, UV-Vis, NMR)
• SAXS and WAXS
• Characterization of Surface functionalization and bulk composition (XRD, XPS)

 ACTS Background

Supramolecular Functional Materials

• Photonic Sensing
• Dynamic-covalent Materials
• Liquid Crystals
• Nanocomposites
• Additive Manufacturing

ACTS Paper Highlights

Blanke, M.; Postulka, L.; Ciara, I.; D’Acierno, F.; Hildebrandt, M.; Gutmann, J. S.; Dong, R. Y.; Michal, C. A.; Giese, M. Manipulation of Liquid Crystalline Properties by Dynamic Covalent Chemistry - En Route to Adaptive Materials. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2022, 14 (14), 16755–16763. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.2c03241.

Malotke, F.; Spengler, M.; Pschyklenk, L.; Saccone, M.; Kaul, P.; Giese, M. Hydrogen‐Bonded Cholesteric Liquid Crystals—A Modular Approach Toward Responsive Photonic Materials. Advanced Photonics Research 2022, 3 (5), 2100353. https://doi.org/10.1002/adpr.202100353.

Faculty of Chemistry
Physical Chemistry
 

Contact

Room: S05 R00 L86
Fon: +49 (0)201 18 32566
Email: jochen.gutmann(at)uni-due.de
Website: http://www.uni-due.de/chemie/ak-gutmann

Researcher Information

Researcher ID: A-5103-2009
ORCID ID: 0000-0002-1394-9202
Scopus ID: 7103288893

 ACTS Methods

• X-ray scattering
• Ellipsometry
• Scanning probe microscopy
• UV-Vis spectroscopy 

 ACTS Background

• Functional surfaces and interfaces
•  Nano- and mesostructured electrodes
•  Surface modification
•  Mesoscopically structured materials

ACTS Paper Highlights

update will follow

Faculty of Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
 

Contact

Room: S07 S05 C39
Fon: +49 (0)201 18 33615
Email: gebhard.haberhauer@uni-due.de
Website: https://www.uni-due.de/akhaberhauer/

Researcher Information

ORCID ID: 0000-0002-5427-7510
Scopus ID: 7004786577

 ACTS Methods

• NMR Spectroscopy
• Cyclic Voltammetry
• CD Spectroscopy

 ACTS Background

• Supramolecular Chemistry
• Metal-Catalyzed C-C Coupling Reactions

ACTS Paper Highlights

Mehrparvar, S.; Wölper, C.; Haberhauer, G. Chalcogen‐Bond‐Induced Double Helix Based on Self‐Assembly of a Small Planar Building Block. Angew Chem Int Ed 2023, 62 (29), e202304202. https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202304202.

Mehrparvar, S.; Scheller, Z. N.; Wölper, C.; Haberhauer, G. Design of Azobenzene beyond Simple On–Off Behavior. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2021, 143 (47), 19856–19864. https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.1c09090.

Kreuzahler, M.; Haberhauer, G. Gold(I)‐Catalyzed Haloalkynylation of Aryl Alkynes: Two Pathways, One Goal. Angew Chem Int Ed 2020, 59 (24), 9433–9437. https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.201916027.

Faculty of Biology
Chemical Biology
 

Contact

Room: S03 S02 A55
Fon: +49 (0)201 18 34980
Email: markus.kaiser(@)uni-due.de
Website: https://www.uni-due.de/zmb/members/markus-kaiser.php

Researcher Information

ORCID ID: 0000-0002-6540-8520
Scopus ID: 7201712996

 ACTS Methods

• Time-resolved mass spectrometry
• lab-on-a-chip mass spectrometry

 ACTS Background

Chemical biology and proteomics

• Chemical proteomics for biomedicine and biotechnology applications
• Eludication of the mode-of-action of bioactive compounds
• Target-oriented drug discovery

ACTS Paper Highlights

update will follow

Faculty of Biology
Molecular Biology II
 

Contact

Room: S05 R04 H94
Fon: +49 (0)201 18 34987
Email: shirley.knauer(@)uni-due.de
Website: https://www.uni-due.de/zmb/molecular-biology-knauer

Researcher Information

ORCID ID: 0000-0003-4321-0924
Scopus ID: 8271051900

 ACTS Methods

Analysis of protein conformation and binding

• (BIO-)SAXS (with EMBL)
• Stopped-flow/SwitchSense
• Analytical ultra-centrifugation
• (V/E)CD/IR/Raman spectroscopy
• Label-free SERS nano-diagnostics

 ACTS Background

Supramolecular Chemistry on Proteins

• Rational ligand design for specific interference with protein function
• Switchable ligands for dynamic protein modulation

Nanbodies

• Characterization and Functionalization of specific Nanobodies against Cancer-relevant Target Proteins

Nanoparticle Corona and Microbiome-Interactions

• Nanoparticle protein corona
• Therapeutic application of nanoparticles

ACTS Paper Highlights

Hommel, K.; Kauth, A. A.; Kirupakaran, A.; Theisen, S.; Hayduk, M.; Niemeyer, F. C.; Beuck, C.; Zadmard, R.; Bayer, P.; Jan Ravoo, B.; Voskuhl, J.; Schrader, T.; Knauer, S. K. Functional Linkers Support Targeting of Multivalent Tweezers to Taspase1. Chemistry A European J 2024, e202401542. https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.202401542.

Stahl, P.; Kollenda, S.; Sager, J.; Schmidt, L.; Schroer, M. A.; Stauber, R. H.; Epple, M.; Knauer, S. K. Tuning Nanobodies’ Bioactivity: Coupling to Ultrasmall Gold Nanoparticles Allows the Intracellular Interference with Survivin. Small 2023, 19 (33), 2300871. https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.202300871.

Meiners, A.; Bäcker, S.; Hadrović, I.; Heid, C.; Beuck, C.; Ruiz-Blanco, Y. B.; Mieres-Perez, J.; Pörschke, M.; Grad, J.-N.; Vallet, C.; Hoffmann, D.; Bayer, P.; Sánchez-García, E.; Schrader, T.; Knauer, S. K. Specific Inhibition of the Survivin–CRM1 Interaction by Peptide-Modified Molecular Tweezers. Nat Commun 2021, 12 (1), 1505. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-21753-9.

Faculty of Chemistry
Aquatic Microbiology
 

Contact

Room: S07 S05 C39
Fon: +49 (0)201 18 33615
Email: rainer.meckenstock@uni-due.de
Website: https://www.uni-due.de/biofilm-centre/

Researcher Information

ORCID ID: 0000-0001-7786-9546
Scopus ID: 7005916698

 ACTS Methods

• Raman micro spectroscopy
• Stable isotope probing
• 16S rRNA sequence-based community analysis

 ACTS Background

• Microbial contaminant degradation           
• Stable isotope-based degradation analysis
• Developing stable isotope techniques
• Nanoparticles for contaminant attenuation

ACTS Paper Highlights

update will follow

Faculty of Chemistry
Physical Chemistry
 

Contact

Room: S05 V01 E14
Fon: +49 (0) 201 18 36843
Email: sebastian.schluecker(@)uni-due.de
Website: http://www.uni-due.de/schluecker-lab/

Researcher Information

Researcher ID: D-1031-2010
ORCID ID: 0000-0003-4790-4616
Scopus ID: 6603378414

 ACTS Methods

• Linear and non-Linear Raman Spectroscopy and Microscopy
• Optical in-situ Spectroscopy on Single Cells (SERS)
• Monitoring of Protein-Ligand Interactions UV-RR
• Separation Techniques for Nanoparticles (A4F)

 ACTS Background

Labeled Nanoparticles for Biomedicine an Catalysis

• Instrument Construction and Method Coupling in Optical Spectroscopy
• Bifunctional Nanoparticles for Catalysis
• Wet Chemical Synthesis of Nanoparticles with Different Morphologies

ACTS Paper Highlights

Yang, L.; Grzeschik, R.; Jiang, P.; Yu, L.; Hu, C.; Du, A.; Schlücker, S.; Xie, W. Tuning the Electronic Properties of Platinum in Hybrid‐Nanoparticle Assemblies for Use in Hydrogen Evolution Reaction. Angewandte Chemie 2023, 135 (25), e202301065. https://doi.org/10.1002/ange.202301065.

Jose, J.; Schumacher, L.; Jalali, M.; Haberfehlner, G.; Svejda, J. T.; Erni, D.; Schlücker, S. Particle Size-Dependent Onset of the Tunneling Regime in Ideal Dimers of Gold Nanospheres. ACS Nano 2022, 16 (12), 21377–21387. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.2c09680.

Tran, V.; Walkenfort, B.; König, M.; Salehi, M.; Schlücker, S. Rapid, Quantitative, and Ultrasensitive Point‐of‐Care Testing: A Portable SERS Reader for Lateral Flow Assays in Clinical Chemistry. Angew Chem Int Ed 2019, 58 (2), 442–446. https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.201810917.

Faculty of Chemistry
Instrumental Analytical Chemistry
Dean

Contact

Room: S05 V02 E19
Fon: +49 (0) 201 18 36774
Email: torsten.schmidt(@)uni-due.de
Website: https://www.uni-due.de/iac/

Researcher Information

Researcher ID: A-1143-2011
ORCID ID: 0000-0003-1107-4403
Scopus ID: 35935125300

 ACTS Methods

• Laser Flash Photolysis
• Ultrafast GC-HRMS (Transient transformation product formation)
• Reaction kinetics using fast stopped-flow systems and in-situ spectroscopy

 ACTS Background

• Transformation and sorption processes in homogenous and heterogenous aqueous systems
• Automated and miniaturized sample preparation
• Separation methods and mass spectrometry

ACTS Paper Highlights

Hammad, M.; Angel, S.; Al-Kamal, A. K.; Asghar, A.; Said Amin, A.; Kräenbring, M.-A.; Wiedemann, H. T. A.; Vinayakumar, V.; Yusuf Ali, M.; Fortugno, P.; Kim, C.; Schmidt, T. C.; Kay, C. W. M.; Schulz, C.; Segets, D.; Wiggers, H. Synthesis of Novel LaCoO3/Graphene Catalysts as Highly Efficient Peroxymonosulfate Activator for the Degradation of Organic Pollutants. Chemical Engineering Journal 2023, 454, 139900. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2022.139900.

Lau, K.; Niemann, F.; Abdiaziz, K.; Heidelmann, M.; Yang, Y.; Tong, Y.; Fechtelkord, M.; Schmidt, T. C.; Schnegg, A.; Campen, R. K.; Peng, B.; Muhler, M.; Reichenberger, S.; Barcikowski, S. Differentiating between Acidic and Basic Surface Hydroxyls on Metal Oxides by Fluoride Substitution: A Case Study on Blue TiO ₂ from Laser Defect Engineering. Angew Chem Int Ed 2023, 62 (12), e202213968. https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202213968.

Terhalle, J.; Nikutta, S. E.; Krzeciesa, D. L.; Lutze, H. V.; Jochmann, M. A.; Schmidt, T. C. Linking Reaction Rate Constants and Isotope Fractionation of Ozonation Reactions Using Phenols as Probes. Water Research 2022, 210, 117931. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117931.

Faculty of Chemistry
Applied Analytical Chemistry
 

Contact

Room: S05 V02 E19
Fon: +49 (0) 201 18 33950
Email: oliver.schmitz@uni-due.de
Website: https://www.uni-due.de/aac/

Researcher Information

Researcher ID: G-5615-2014
ORCID ID: 0000-0003-2184-1207
Scopus ID: 57203106177

 ACTS Methods

• Time-resolved mass spectrometry
• lab-on-a-chip mass spectrometry

 ACTS Background

• Ion sources
• Mass spectrometry
• Hyphenated techniques
• Ion transformation and transportation

ACTS Paper Highlights

Imada, S.; Khawaled, S.; Shin, H.; Meckelmann, S. W.; Whittaker, C. A.; Corrêa, R. O.; Alquati, C.; Lu, Y.; Tie, G.; Pradhan, D.; Calibasi-Kocal, G.; Nascentes Melo, L. M.; Allies, G.; Rösler, J.; Wittenhofer, P.; Krystkiewicz, J.; Schmitz, O. J.; Roper, J.; Vinolo, M. A. R.; Ricciardiello, L.; Lien, E. C.; Vander Heiden, M. G.; Shivdasani, R. A.; Cheng, C.-W.; Tasdogan, A.; Yilmaz, Ö. H. Short-Term Post-Fast Refeeding Enhances Intestinal Stemness via Polyamines. Nature 2024, 633 (8031), 895–904. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07840-z.

Rogava, M.; Aprati, T. J.; Chi, W.-Y.; Melms, J. C.; Hug, C.; Davis, S. H.; Earlie, E. M.; Chung, C.; Deshmukh, S. K.; Wu, S.; Sledge, G.; Tang, S.; Ho, P.; Amin, A. D.; Caprio, L.; Gurjao, C.; Tagore, S.; Ngo, B.; Lee, M. J.; Zanetti, G.; Wang, Y.; Chen, S.; Ge, W.; Melo, L. M. N.; Allies, G.; Rösler, J.; Gibney, G. T.; Schmitz, O. J.; Sykes, M.; Creusot, R. J.; Tüting, T.; Schadendorf, D.; Röcken, M.; Eigentler, T. K.; Molotkov, A.; Mintz, A.; Bakhoum, S. F.; Beyaz, S.; Cantley, L. C.; Sorger, P. K.; Meckelmann, S. W.; Tasdogan, A.; Liu, D.; Laughney, A. M.; Izar, B. Loss of Pip4k2c Confers Liver-Metastatic Organotropism through Insulin-Dependent PI3K-AKT Pathway Activation. Nat Cancer 2024, 5 (3), 433–447. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43018-023-00704-x.

Weiss, L. C.; Albada, B.; Becker, S. M.; Meckelmann, S. W.; Klein, J.; Meyer, M.; Schmitz, O. J.; Sommer, U.; Leo, M.; Zagermann, J.; Metzler-Nolte, N.; Tollrian, R. Identification of Chaoborus Kairomone Chemicals That Induce Defences in Daphnia. Nat Chem Biol 2018, 14 (12), 1133–1139. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41589-018-0164-7.

Faculty of Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
 

Contact

Room: S07 S05 C46
Fon: +49 (0) 201 18 33081
Email: thomas.schrader(@)uni-due.de
Website: https://www.uni-due.de/chemie/ak_schrader/index.php

Researcher Information

ORCID ID: 0000-0002-7003-6362
Scopus ID: 16437657300

 ACTS Methods

• NMR Spectroscopy
• Surface Plasmon Resonance 
• Mass Spectrometry 
• Quartz Crystal Microbalance
• Optical Spectroscopy (UV, IR, CD)

 ACTS Background

• Supramolecular Chemistry
• Protein Recognition              
• Protein Aggregation Inhibition
• Membrane Disruption of Viruses
• Membrane Interactions and Signal Transduction 
• DNA Recognition

ACTS Paper Highlights

Neblik, J.; Kirupakaran, A.; Beuck, C.; Mieres-Perez, J.; Niemeyer, F.; Le, M.-H.; Telgheder, U.; Schmuck, J. F.; Dudziak, A.; Bayer, P.; Sanchez-Garcia, E.; Westermann, S.; Schrader, T. Multivalent Molecular Tweezers Disrupt the Essential NDC80 Interaction with Microtubules. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2023, 145 (28), 15251–15264. https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.3c02186.

Shahpasand-Kroner, H.; Siddique, I.; Malik, R.; Linares, G. R.; Ivanova, M. I.; Ichida, J.; Weil, T.; Münch, J.; Sanchez-Garcia, E.; Klärner, F.-G.; Schrader, T.; Bitan, G. Molecular Tweezers: Supramolecular Hosts with Broad-Spectrum Biological Applications. Pharmacol Rev 2023, 75 (2), 263–308. https://doi.org/10.1124/pharmrev.122.000654.

Weil, T.; Kirupakaran, A.; Le, M.-H.; Rebmann, P.; Mieres-Perez, J.; Issmail, L.; Conzelmann, C.; Müller, J. A.; Rauch, L.; Gilg, A.; Wettstein, L.; Groß, R.; Read, C.; Bergner, T.; Pålsson, S. A.; Uhlig, N.; Eberlein, V.; Wöll, H.; Klärner, F.-G.; Stenger, S.; Kümmerer, B. M.; Streeck, H.; Fois, G.; Frick, M.; Braubach, P.; Spetz, A.-L.; Grunwald, T.; Shorter, J.; Sanchez-Garcia, E.; Schrader, T.; Münch, J. Advanced Molecular Tweezers with Lipid Anchors against SARS-CoV-2 and Other Respiratory Viruses. JACS Au 2022, 2 (9), 2187–2202. https://doi.org/10.1021/jacsau.2c00220.

Faculty of Engineering
Reactive Fluids
 

Contact

Room: 3.10 (NETZ)
Fon: +49 (0) 203 37 98163
Email: christof.schulz(@)uni-due.de
Website: https://www.uni-due.de/ivg/rf/

Researcher Information

Researcher ID: A-5711-2010
ORCID ID: 0000-0002-6879-4826
Scopus ID: 57201264361

 ACTS Methods

• Optical spectroscopy
• Laser-based imaging diagnostics (LIF)
• Optical particle diagnostics (LII, LIBS)

 ACTS Background

• Laser-based diagnostics
• Nanoparticle synthesis (gas-phase processes)         
• Materials for electrochemical applications

ACTS Paper Highlights

Lubnow, M.; Dreier, T.; Schulz, C.; Endres, T. Simultaneous Measurement of Liquid-Film Thickness and Solute Concentration of Aqueous Solutions of Two Urea Derivatives Using NIR Absorption. Appl. Opt. 2021, 60 (32), 10087. https://doi.org/10.1364/AO.440465.

Menser, J.; Daun, K.; Schulz, C. Interrogating Gas-Borne Nanoparticles Using Laser-Based Diagnostics and Bayesian Data Fusion. J. Phys. Chem. C 2021, 125 (15), 8382–8390. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcc.0c10026.

Angel, S.; Braun, M.; Alkan, B.; Landers, J.; Salamon, S.; Wende, H.; Andronescu, C.; Schulz, C.; Wiggers, H. Spray-Flame Synthesis of LaFexCo1-xO3 (x = 0.2, 0.3) Perovskite Nanoparticles for Oxygen Evolution Reaction in Water Splitting: Effect of Precursor Chemistry (Acetates and Nitrates). J. Phys. Chem. A 2023, 127 (11), 2564–2576. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpca.2c06601.

Faculty of Chemistry
Inorganic Chemistry
 

Contact

Room: S05 V02 E19
Fon: +49 (0) 201 18 34635
Email: stephan.schulz(@)uni-due.de
Website: https://www.uni-due.de/ak_schulz/index_en.php

Researcher Information

Researcher ID: B-6769-2012
ORCID ID: 0000-0003-2896-4488
Scopus ID: 55256838200

 ACTS Methods

• Bulk and surface structure, (GI)-XRD
• Electrochemical processes
• Reaction mechanism, NMR spectroscopy

 ACTS Background

Functional Materials for Energy Applications

• Size and shape-selective nanoparticles synthesis
• Thin film deposition (MOCVD, ALD, PVD)
• Molecular models for alcohol oxidation and water splitting

ACTS Paper Highlights

Timoshenko, J.; Haase, F. T.; Saddeler, S.; Rüscher, M.; Jeon, H. S.; Herzog, A.; Hejral, U.; Bergmann, A.; Schulz, S.; Roldan Cuenya, B. Deciphering the Structural and Chemical Transformations of Oxide Catalysts during Oxygen Evolution Reaction Using Quick X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy and Machine Learning. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2023, 145 (7), 4065–4080. https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.2c11824.

Quast, T.; Varhade, S.; Saddeler, S.; Chen, Y.; Andronescu, C.; Schulz, S.; Schuhmann, W. Single Particle Nanoelectrochemistry Reveals the Catalytic Oxygen Evolution Reaction Activity of Co3O4 Nanocubes. Angew Chem Int Ed 2021, 60 (43), 23444–23450. https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202109201.

Saddeler, S.; Bendt, G.; Salamon, S.; Haase, F. T.; Landers, J.; Timoshenko, J.; Rettenmaier, C.; Jeon, H. S.; Bergmann, A.; Wende, H.; Roldan Cuenya, B.; Schulz, S. Influence of the Cobalt Content in Cobalt Iron Oxides on the Electrocatalytic OER Activity. J. Mater. Chem. A 2021, 9 (45), 25381–25390. https://doi.org/10.1039/D1TA06568H.

Faculty of Biology
Aquatic Ecology
 

Contact

Room: S05 T03 B29
Fon: +49 201 183 2617
Email: bernd.sures@uni-due.de
Website: https://www.uni-due.de/aquatische_oekologie/index.php

Researcher Information

Researcher ID: B-6652-2013
ORCID ID: 0000-0001-6865-6186
Scopus ID: 7006535205

 ACTS Methods

• Element analysis using ICP-MS, ICP-OES and AAS
• Stable isotope analysis

 ACTS Background

• Online metal analysis of aqueous samples via inductively coupled mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)
• Coupling of experimental lab flumes (river/stream mesocosms) on online ICP-MS measurements
• Automated processing (digestion) and online measurements of solid samples using ICP-MS

ACTS Paper Highlights

Streich, C.; Stein, F.; Jakobi, J.; Ingendoh‐Tsakmakidis, A.; Heine, N.; Rehbock, C.; Winkel, A.; Grade, S.; Kühnel, M.; Migunov, V.; Kovács, A.; Knura, T.; Stiesch, M.; Sures, B.; Barcikowski, S. The Origin of the Intracellular Silver in Bacteria: A Comprehensive Study Using Targeting Gold–Silver Alloy Nanoparticles. Adv Healthcare Materials 2023, 12 (30), 2302084. https://doi.org/10.1002/adhm.202302084.

Díaz-Morales, D. M.; Erasmus, J. H.; Bosch, S.; Nachev, M.; Smit, N. J.; Zimmermann, S.; Wepener, V.; Sures, B. Metal Contamination and Toxicity of Soils and River Sediments from the World’s Largest Platinum Mining Area. Environmental Pollution 2021, 286, 117284. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117284.

Ziefuss, A. R.; Steenbock, T.; Benner, D.; Plech, A.; Göttlicher, J.; Teubner, M.; Grimm‐Lebsanft, B.; Rehbock, C.; Comby‐Zerbino, C.; Antoine, R.; Amans, D.; Chakraborty, I.; Bester, G.; Nachev, M.; Sures, B.; Rübhausen, M.; Parak, W. J.; Barcikowski, S. Photoluminescence of Fully Inorganic Colloidal Gold Nanocluster and Their Manipulation Using Surface Charge Effects. Advanced Materials 2021, 33 (31), 2101549. https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202101549.

University Hospital Essen
Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Transplant Medicine

Contact

Room: 42.07.08, University Hospital Essen, Institute Group 1 (IG1)
Fon: +49 201 723 4527
Email: basant-kumar.thakur@uk-essen.de and basant.thakur@uni-due.de
Website: https://www.uni-due.de/zmb/members/basant-kumar-thakur.php

Researcher Information

Researcher ID: IGS-7336-2023
ORCID ID: 0000-0001-7013-7895
Scopus ID: 57201191208

 ACTS Methods

• Integration of advanced instrumentation such as MS-VWZ Orbitrap mass spectrometers with residence time mass analyzers and CARS-MF microfluidics-coupled coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy. Chemical conjugation and nanotechnology 

 ACTS Background

• Nanotechnology‑based extracellular vesicle (EV) analytics
• AI/ML‑integrated multi‑omics and imaging analysis
• In situ multimodal spectroscopy and flow‑based EV characterization
• Translational EV biotechnology across biomedical, environmental, and plant systems

ACTS Paper Highlights

Zhu, X.; Chetty, V. K.; Ghanam, J.; Hila, A.; Yang, Q.; Strickfaden, H.; Bonn, M.; Cremer, C.; Hoyer, P. F.; Liu, X.; Thakur, B. K. Single-Molecule Localization Microscopy Imaging of Extracellular Vesicle DNA in Recipient Cells. J Transl Med 2026, 24 (1), 130. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-025-07563-3.

Zhu, X.; Chen, Q.; Zhao, H.; Yang, Q.; Goudappagouda; Gelléri, M.; Ritz, S.; Ng, D.; Koynov, K.; Parekh, S. H.; Chetty, V. K.; Thakur, B. K.; Cremer, C.; Landfester, K.; Müllen, K.; Terenzio, M.; Bonn, M.; Narita, A.; Liu, X. Intrinsic Burst-Blinking Nanographenes for Super-Resolution Bioimaging. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2024, 146 (8), 5195–5203. https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.3c11152.

Ghanam, J.; Chetty, V. K.; Anchan, S.; Reetz, L.; Yang, Q.; Rideau, E.; Liu, X.; Lieberwirth, I.; Wrobeln, A.; Hoyer, P.; Reinhardt, D.; Thakur, B. K. Extracellular Vesicles Transfer Chromatin-like Structures That Induce Non-Mutational Dysfunction of P53 in Bone Marrow Stem Cells. Cell Discov 2023, 9 (1), 12. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41421-022-00505-z.

Faculty of Chemistry
Synthesis and Application of Luminophores
 

Contact

Room: S07 S04 C46
Fon: +49 201 183 2404
Email: jens.voskuhl@uni-due.de
Website: https://www.uni-due.de/chemie/voskuhl/

Researcher Information

Researcher ID: E-8409-2014
ORCID ID: 0000-0002-9612-2306
Scopus ID: 26325993700

 ACTS Methods

• Emission spectroscopy
• Steady state spectroscopy
• Analysis of supramolecular assemblies

 ACTS Background

• Organic synthesis
• Design of luminophores
• Biosupramolecular Chemistry
• Adaptive Materials
• Bioimaging

ACTS Paper Highlights

Dubbert, J.; Höing, A.; Graupner, N.; Rajter, Ľ.; Dunthorn, M.; Knauer, S. K.; Galstyan, A.; Rizzo, F.; Voskuhl, J. Cationic Solution and Solid‐State Emitters – Robust Imaging Agents for Cells, Bacteria, and Protists. Chemistry A European J 2023, 29 (38), e202300334. https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.202300334.

Roy, B.; Maisuls, I.; Zhang, J.; Niemeyer, F. C.; Rizzo, F.; Wölper, C.; Daniliuc, C. G.; Tang, B. Z.; Strassert, C. A.; Voskuhl, J. Mapping the Regioisomeric Space and Visible Color Range of Purely Organic Dual Emitters with Ultralong Phosphorescence Components: From Violet to Red Towards Pure White Light. Angew Chem Int Ed 2022, 61 (4), e202111805. https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202111805.

Sowa, A.; Höing, A.; Dobrindt, U.; Knauer, S. K.; Galstyan, A.; Voskuhl, J. Umbelliferone Decorated Water‐soluble Zinc(II) Phthalocyanines – In Vitro Phototoxic Antimicrobial Anti‐cancer Agents. Chemistry A European J 2021, 27 (59), 14672–14680. https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.202102255.

Faculty of Chemistry
Physical Chemistry

Contact

Room: S05 R00 L81
Fon: +49 (0)201 183 3362
Email: erna.wieduwilt@uni-due.de
Website: https://www.uni-due.de/2025-12-08-professor-erna-wieduwilt-researches-plastic-recycling

Researcher Information

Researcher ID: GXF-4972-2022
ORCID ID: 0000-0002-5438-2652
Scopus ID: 57211251297

 ACTS Methods

• Quantum mechanics / molecular mechanics calculations
• Density functional theory
• Molecular dynamics simulations
• Quantum-mechanics based crystal structure refinement 

 ACTS Background

• Investigating transition metal active site catalysis
• Elucidating reaction mechanisms at solvent exposed active sites
• Improved refinement of molecular and protein crystal structures

ACTS Paper Highlights

Wieduwilt, E. K.; Hagemann, M. M.; Ryde, U.; Hedegård, E. D. The Mechanism behind the Oxidase Activity of Cellulose-Active AA10 Lytic Polysaccharide Monooxygenases. Inorg. Chem. Front. 2025, 12 (18), 5344–5359. https://doi.org/10.1039/D5QI00796H

Wieduwilt, E. K.; Lo Leggio, L.; Hedegård, E. D. A Frontier-Orbital View of the Initial Steps of Lytic Polysaccharide Monooxygenase Reactions. Dalton Trans. 2024, 53 (13), 5796–5807. https://doi.org/10.1039/D3DT04275H.