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Porträt PD Dr. habil. Schmidt, Moritz; FWOF

PD Dr. habil. Moritz Schmidt

Head Chemistry of the f-elements
moritz.schmidtAthzdr.de
Phone: +49 351 260 3156
+49 351 260 2536

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Department of Chemistry of the f-elements


We study the chemistry of the actinides and their lanthanide homologues in solid state as well as in solution. Modern analytical tools combined with quantum chemical computations, provide atomic scale information which can be used to characterize the physico-chemical properties of the actinides in molecules.

Übersicht FWOF ©Copyright: PD Dr. habil. Schmidt, Moritz

Our main focus is on the coordination chemistry of f-elements with inorganic and organic ligands, mostly biological and bio-inspired ligand systems. These studies use single-crystal X-ray diffraction to study structures in the solid state, and spectroscopic techniques, such as NMR, XANES, and TRLFS, to characterize structures in solution. All studies are complemented by quantum-theoretical calculations, which rely heavily on the in-house development of theoretical methods for 5f systems (i.e. actinides).

The fundamental understanding of actinide chemistry is applied to investigate actinide reactivity at the water/mineral interface, where atomic force microscopy, TRLFS, and surface X-ray diffraction are used as surface sensitive speciation techniques.

A full list of experimental equipment and capacities can be found here.

Our group is open for interested Bachelor's and Master's students, as well as research internships. Get in touch with us!


Latest Publication

Natural and synthetic plagioclases: Surface charge characterization and sorption of trivalent lanthanides (Eu) and actinides (Am, Cm)

Lessing, J.; Neumann, J.; Lützenkirchen, J.; Bok, F.; Moisei-Rabung, S.; Schild, D.; Brendler, V.; Stumpf, T.; Schmidt, M.

The environmental fate of radiotoxic actinides is controlled by their interactions with feldspars. Here, the sorption of trivalent minor actinides (Am, Cm) and their rare earth analogue Eu onto synthetic pure Ca-feldspar (anorthite) and natural plagioclases of different Ca contents is investigated, covering ranges of [M3+] (52 nM–10 μM), solid-liquid ratios (1–3 g/L), pH (3–9), and ionic strengths (0.01–0.1 M NaCl) under both ambient and CO2-free conditions. The zeta potential shows an unusual increase and charge reversal between pH 4 and 7 with increasing amount of Ca and Al in the feldspar crystal lattice, which is likely connected to adsorption and/or surface precipitation of dissolved Al3+. Streaming potential measurements yield (de)protonation constants for anorthite surface sites of log K- = -6.94 ± 0.38 and log K+ = +6.84 ± 0.38. Batch sorption data shows strong immobilization of M3+ by plagioclases at mildly acidic and basic pH. Time-resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy using Cm indicates the formation of an inner-sphere complex and its two hydrolyzed forms. The complex reactivity of dissolved Al3+ at the plagioclase-water interface severely complicated the development of a surface complexation model, emphasizing the need for additional research in this area.

Keywords: Ca-feldspar; Anorthite; Sorption; Trivalent metal ions; TRLFS; Surface Complexation Model; Charge Reversal


Projects

Current

  • 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, 04/2023-03/2026)
  • Competition and Reversibility of sorption processes
    (KuRSiV, BMUV, 01/2023-06/2026)
  • Spectroscopic characterization of f-Element complexes with soft donor ligands
    (f-Char, BMBF, 10/2020 - 03/2024)

Expired

  • Structure effect relations between f-elements and organic ligands with natural-analogue binding modes in regards to a possible mobilization in the environment
    (FENABIUM, BMBF, 10/2016 – 05/2021)
  • Smart-Kd applications for the long term safety assessment of nuclear waste disposal sites
    (SMILE, BMWi, 09/2018 – 02/2022)

Team

Image: Group image

Head

NameBld./Office+49 351 260Email
PD Dr. habil. Moritz Schmidt801/P2493156
2536
moritz.schmidtAthzdr.de

Employees

NameBld./Office+49 351 260Email
Johannes Balasj.balasAthzdr.de
Dr. Robert Gericke801/P2052011
r.gerickeAthzdr.de
Dennis Grödler801/P2052438
d.groedlerAthzdr.de
Dr. Peter Kaden801/P2172261
p.kadenAthzdr.de
Aliaksandra Khokh801/P2193194
a.khokhAthzdr.de
Jessica Lessing801/P3523154
j.lessingAthzdr.de
Adrian Näder801/P3523154
a.naederAthzdr.de
Dr. Michael Patzschke801/P3562989
m.patzschkeAthzdr.de
Till Erik Sawallisch801/P3502035
t.sawallischAthzdr.de

Actinid chemistry of metall organics

NameBld./Office+49 351 260Email
Dr. Juliane März801/P2173209
2506
j.maerzAthzdr.de
Boseok Hong801/P2052438
b.hongAthzdr.de