GRK 894:  Self-organization by Coordinative and Non-covalent Interactions

• Subject Area: Molecular Chemistry ; Physical Chemistry
• Term: from 2003 to 2006
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 273623

Thirteen Research Training Groups in the departments of Chemistry and Physics of the Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, and in the Leibniz- Institute of Plant Biochemistry Halle collaborate in an interdisciplinary research project. The graduate college is centered on supramolecular chemistry. The students synthesise, investigate and model different types of self-organising systems. They are guided towards a fundamental understanding of the forces governing the self organisation in solution (dye aggregates, guest-host systems), in ordered fluids (thermotropic and lyotropic liquid crystals), in the crystalline state (e.g. in superstructures caused by closed-shell interactions) and at interfaces. The research is conducted in close collaboration between organic, inorganic and physical chemistry groups, computer modelling groups, spectroscopic groups and physics. The interdisciplinary approach offers training opportunities mainly for chemists and physicists. The students learn to collaborate with scientists with a different background.

• DFG Programme: Research Training Groups
• Applicant Institution: Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg
• Participating Institution: Leibniz-Institut für Pflanzenbiochemie (IPB)
• Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Carsten Tschierske
• Participating Researchers: Professor Dr. Alfred Blume; Privatdozent Dr. Rudolf Friedemann; Dr. Günter Hempel; Professor Dr. Gunter Israel (†); Professor Dr. Klaus Jacob; Professor Dr. Horst Kresse; Professor Dr. Kurt Merzweiler; Professor Dr. Gerhard Pelzl; Professor Dr. Wieland Schäfer; Professor Dr. Dirk Steinborn; Professor Dr. Wolfgang Weißflog; Professor Dr. Ludger A. Wessjohann