Contact

Prof. Dr. Moritz Schmidt

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

Social Media

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.

Moritz Schmidt is also Professor for Coordination Chemistry of Radionuclides at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg. Our group is open for interested Bachelor's and Master's students, as well as research internships. Get in touch with us!

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)

Expired

Spectroscopic characterization of f-Element complexes with soft donor ligands
(f-Char, BMBF, 10/2020 - 03/2024)
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-K_d applications for the long term safety assessment of nuclear waste disposal sites
(SMILE, BMWi, 09/2018 – 02/2022)

Latest publication

Curium(III) Luminescence Spectroscopy as a Tool for Species Determination

Schmidt, M.; Skerencak, A.; Panak, P. J.; Huittinen, N. M.

Abstract

Curium is an artificial transuranic element with atomic number 96. It is typically found in its +III oxidation state, which is stabilized by a 5f7 electron configuration. CmIII exhibits intense lumi-nescence from its first excited 6D’7/2 to its 8S’7/2 ground state in the red part of the visual spec-trum. Due to the nature of the 5f electron shell, this luminescence is sensitive to changes in the chemical environment of the CmIII probe, while being detectable in the trace concentration range. This unique combination has established CmIII luminescence spectroscopy as an ideal tool for speciation studies in complex systems, particularly those relevant to the nuclear fuel cycle. In this review, we present an overview of the developments and applications of CmIII lumines-cence spectroscopy in the last 20 years since the last comprehensive review was published. The discussed studies have been categorized according to their chemical environment into reactions at the water/mineral interface, studies of solids containing CmIII, aqueous complexation studies, spectroscopy in non-aqueous systems, and interaction of CmIII with biomolecules and biota. These systems correlate in large parts with areas of application in nuclear waste disposal sci-ence, separation processes within current and proposed nuclear fuel cycles, and radioecological research. We summarize the most important findings in the studies, identify emerging trends and persistent challenges in the field of CmIII luminescence spectroscopy. Finally, we offer an outlook on potential future developments and research directions in this area.

Keywords: Curium; Luminescence; TRLFS; Spectroscopy

Chemical Society Reviews 54(2025), 10880-10939
DOI: 10.1039/d5cs00764j

Permalink: https://www.hzdr.de/publications/Publ-41909

More publications

Team

Name	Bld./Office	+49 351 260	Email
Head
Prof. Dr. Moritz Schmidt	801/P249	3156 2536	moritz.schmidthzdr.de
Employees
Name	Bld./Office	+49 351 260	Email
Johannes Balas	801/P205	2438	j.balashzdr.de
Dr. Robert Gericke	801/P205	2011	r.gerickehzdr.de
Dennis Grödler	801/P205	2438	d.groedlerhzdr.de
Dr. Peter Kaden	801/P217	2261	p.kadenhzdr.de
Jessica Lessing	801/P352	3154	j.lessinghzdr.de
Adrian Näder	801/P352	3154	a.naederhzdr.de
Dr. Michael Patzschke	801/P356	2989	m.patzschkehzdr.de
Jason Daniel Ross	801/P306	2860	j.rosshzdr.de
Till Erik Sawallisch	801/P205	2438	t.sawallischhzdr.de
Dr. Bin Yeamin	801/P205	2438	b.yeaminhzdr.de
Actinid chemistry of metall organics
Name	Bld./Office	+49 351 260	Email
Dr. Juliane März	801/P217	3209 2506	j.maerzhzdr.de