Curriculum Vitae Moritz Schmidt

Scientific career

  • Current:
    Head of the department "Chemistry of the f-elements" Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Resource Ecology.
  • since 05/2025:
    Professor for Coordination Chemistry of Radionuclides at Brandenburg Technical University Cottbus-Senftenberg.
  • 2013 – 2018:
    Helmholtz Young Investigator group leader at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Resource Ecology.
  • 2012 – 2013:
    Research associate at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute for Nuclear Waste Disposal.
  • 2010 – 2012:
    Research Associate at Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Chemical Sciences and Engineering Division.
  • 11/2009:
    PhD at the University of Heidelberg, Department of Chemistry, “Untersuchungen zum Einbaumechanismus von Actiniden und Lanthaniden in Calcium-haltige Sekundärphasen” (in German).
  • 2006 – 2009:
    PhD student at the Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe, Institute for Nuclear Waste Disposal.
  • 2006:
    Diplom (M.Sc.) in Chemistry at the University of Heidelberg

Research experience

  • Actinide chemistry
  • Geochemistry of the actinides in the context of nuclear waste storage
  • Mineral/water interface reactions
  • Structural incorporation of actinides into mineral phases
  • Site-selective time-resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy with Cm(III) and Eu(III)
  • Surface X-ray diffraction

Newest Publication in the Department

Intramolecular Matere Bonds in Isostructural Rubidium (18-Crown-6) Pertechnetate and Perrhenate Dimers

Yong, C.; Burguera, S.; Grödler, D.; Lenting, C.; Ibrahim, H.; Wickleder, M. S.; Frontera, A.; Strub, E.

Abstract

The synthesis and structural characterisation of isostructural [Rb(18-crown-6)][XO₄] (X = Tc, Re) confirm a dimeric structure, [Rb(18-crown-6)]₂[XO₄]₂. X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that the dimers feature a [Rb₂X₂O₈] core formed by two macrocycle-bound Rb+ cations bridged by XO₄⁻. Their arrangements are directed by Rb–O coordination and by two equivalent X···O Matere bonds (MaBs). Unlike previously reported MaBs that link these oxoanions into extended supramolecular polymers or layers, the interactions described here occur within the discrete dimeric cluster, representing the first such examples of intramolecular MaBs for pertechnetate and perrhenate. Computational analysis clarifies the origin of these contacts. Molecular electrostatic potential maps reveal σ-holes at Tc and Re, supporting MaB formation. Quantum theory of atoms in molecules, noncovalent interaction plots, and natural bond orbital calculations independently confirm the presence and stabilising nature of the X···O interactions. These results highlight the role of σ-hole interactions in determining the solid-state architecture of pertechnetate and perrhenate crown-ether complexes and provide insight relevant to oxoanion behaviour in separation processes and nuclear waste management.

Keywords: σ-hole matere bonds; crown compounds; density functional theory; pertechnetate; Technetium; 99Tc

Permalink: https://www.hzdr.de/publications/Publ-43360

More publications

Grants and Projects

  • Coordination and extraction chemistry of f-elements with soft donor ligands.
    (CoordEX, BMFTR, 11/2025-10-2028)
  • Actinide metal-organic frameworks as tailored waste matrices for volatile fission products.
    (MeGAcAS, BMFTR, 11/2025-10-2028)
  • Bioinspired polyhydroxamic sequestering agents for the in vivo decorporation of actinides.
    (ActiDecorp, ANR/DFG, 04/2024-03/2027)
  • Actinide-metal-bonding at the atomic level.
    (Am-BALL, BMUV, 05/2023-04/2026)
  • Investigation of the interactions of f-elements with biologically-relevant structural motives: Determination of structure-effect principles for a mobilization in the environment.
    (FENABIUM-II, BMBF, 04/2023-09/2026)
  • Competition and Reversibility of sorption processes.
    (KuRSiV, BMUV, 01/2023-06/2026)
  • Helmholtz Young Investigator Group “Structures and reactivity at the aqueous/mineral interface”
    (VH-NG-942, Helmholtz Association, 10/2013 - 09/2018)