Research Focus
Overview
Our research focuses on inorganic synthesis and structural chemistry. Particular emphasis is placed on compounds with molecular building units such as metal-organic frameworks, inorganic-organic hybrid materials, and molecular solids. Driven by our fascination in the structural chemistry and motivated by societal challenges in the fields of sustainability as well as energy storage and conversion, we aim to develop design principles for sustainable functional materials. Current research directions include:
- Piezoelectric and ferroelectric sensing and energy conversion
- High-pressure X-ray diffraction of "soft" materials
- Barocalorics as an alternative cooling technology
- Complexity analysis of (molecular) solids and interfaces
Our research is positioned at the interface of molecular, supramolecular, and solid-state chemistry and combines a broad range of methods from synthesis techniques, structural analysis, and computational modeling. In our effort to understand the relationship between composition, structure, and properties, we continuously expand and refine our experimental, analytical, and modeling approaches. Synthetic work is complemented by state-of-the-art diffraction experiments at large-scale research facilities such as synchrotron and neutron sources; custom-built software supports us in handling large datasets and interpreting experimental results.
Below are selected review articles that reflect the research interests and perspectives of the group.
- G. Kieslich. Materialdesign von Festkörpern. Nachr. Chem., 2023, 71, 74-75.
- P. Vervoorts, J. Stebani, A. S. J. Méndez, G. Kieslich. Structural Chemistry of Metal-Organic Frameworks under Hydrostatic Pressures. ACS Materials Lett. 2021, 3, 1635.
- C. L. Hobday, G. Kieslich. Structural flexibility in crystalline coordination polymers: a journey along the underlying free energy landscape. Dalton Trans. 2021, 50, 3759-3768.
- G. Kieslich, A. Goodwin. The same and not the same: Molecular perovskites and their solid-state analogues. Mater. Horiz. 2017, 4, 362-366.
