Prof. Dr. Knut R. Asmis

Prof. Dr. Knut R. Asmis

Professor

Physikalische Chemie - kondensierte inhomogene Materie
Technikum Analytikum
Linnéstraße 3, Room 436
04103 Leipzig

Phone: +49 341 97 - 36421
Fax: +49 341 97 - 36399

Abstract

Since March 2014, Knut Asmis has been teaching and researching as a professor at the Wilhelm Ostwald Institute for Physical and Theoretical Chemistry. His research interests are the experimental investigation of isolated clusters and single nanoparticles in the gas phase, among others, in the context of ion solvation, aerosol formation, material ageing, heterogeneous catalysis and the characterisation of reactive intermediates. The ultimate goal of his research is to bridge the knowledge gap between isolated nanoscale aggregates and inhomogeneous condensed matter.

Professional career

  • since 10/2021
    Spokesperson RTG 2721 "Hydrogen Isotopes 123H"
  • 10/2021 - 02/2023
    Speaker of the Graduate School of Natural Sciences BuildMoNa
  • 05/2022 - 10/2022
    Dean, Faculty of Chemistry and Mineralogy, Leipzig University, Leipzig (DE)
  • 10/2019 - 05/2022
    Vice Dean, Faculty of Chemistry and Mineralogy, Leipzig University, Leipzig (DE)
  • 11/2015 - 10/2019
    Institute Director, Wilhelm-Ostwald-Institute for Physical and Theoretical Chemistry,Leipzig University, Leipzig (DE)
  • since 04/2014
    Full Professor (W3), Wilhelm-Ostwald-Institute for Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, Leipzig University, Leipzig (DE)
  • 07/2013 - 03/2014
    Deputy Professor (W3), Wilhelm-Ostwald-Institute for Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, Leipzig University, Leipzig (DE)
  • 01/2003 - 06/2013
    Group Leader (Prof. G. Meijer), Department of Molecular Physics, Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Berlin (DE)
  • 07/1999 - 06/2006
    Group Leader (Prof. L. Wöste), Institut für Experimentalphysik, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin (DE)
  • 11/1996 - 06/1999
    Postdoctoral Fellow (Prof. D.M. Neumark), Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley (US)
  • 02/1993 - 10/1996
    Scientific Assistant (Prof. M. Allan), Institut de Chemie Physique, Université de Fribourg, Freiburg i.Ü. (CH)

Education

  • 10/1999 - 07/2006
    Habilitation, Freie Universität Berlin (DE)
  • 02/1993 - 10/1996
    Promotion, Université de Fribourg (CH)
  • 04/1990 - 12/1992
    Diploma, Université de Fribourg (CH)

The central goal of the research activities of AK Asmis is to bridge the knowledge gap between isolated, nanoscale particles in the gas phase and condensed heterogeneous matter. To this end, we develop methods to characterise the structure, reactivity and dynamics of clusters, nanoparticles and fluid interfaces using state-of-the-art mass spectrometric and laser spectroscopic techniques. A particular focus is on the elucidation of fundamental phenomena in aerosol formation, catalysis, ion solvation and the characterisation of metal oxide/water interactions and strong hydrogen bonds at the molecular level.


  • Mixed Metal Oxide Clusters: Model Systems for Catalytically Active Materials
    Asmis, Knut R.
    Duration: 02/2020 – 01/2023
    Funded by: DFG Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
    Involved organisational units of Leipzig University: Physikalische Chemie - kondensierte inhomogene Materie; Wilhelm-Ostwald-Institut für Physikalische und Theoretische Chemie
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  • Heterogeneously catalysed synthesis processes in flow-through systems
    Schneider, Christoph
    Duration: 01/2020 – 12/2022
    Funded by: EU Europäischer Sozialfonds (ESF)
    Involved organisational units of Leipzig University: Physikalische Chemie - kondensierte inhomogene Materie; Konzentrationsanalytik; Organische Chemie/ Heterocyclenchemie; Wilhelm-Ostwald-Institut für Physikalische und Theoretische Chemie; Heterogene Katalyse
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  • Single Nanoparticle Action Spectroscopy
    Asmis, Knut R.
    Duration: 04/2021 – ongoing
    Funded by: EU Europäischer Fonds für regionale Entwicklung (EFRE)
    Involved organisational units of Leipzig University: Physikalische Chemie - kondensierte inhomogene Materie; Wilhelm-Ostwald-Institut für Physikalische und Theoretische Chemie
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  • Femtosecond laser spectroscopy
    Asmis, Knut R.
    Duration: 07/2018 – ongoing
    Funded by: DFG Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
    Involved organisational units of Leipzig University: Physikalische Chemie - kondensierte inhomogene Materie; Wilhelm-Ostwald-Institut für Physikalische und Theoretische Chemie
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  • GRK 2721: Hydrogen Isotopes 1,2,3H
    Asmis, Knut R.
    Duration: 10/2021 – 03/2026
    Funded by: DFG Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
    Involved organisational units of Leipzig University: Wilhelm-Ostwald-Institut für Physikalische und Theoretische Chemie; Fakultät für Physik und Erdsystemwissenschaften; Fakultät für Chemie und Mineralogie
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more projects

  • Mayer, M.; Asmis, K. R.
    Online Monitoring of Isomeric Reaction Intermediates
    The Journal of Physica Chemistry A. 2021. 125 (14). pp. 2801–2815.
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  • Mueller, F.; Stueckrath, J. B.; Bischoff, F. A.; Gagliardi, L.; Sauer, J.; Debnath, S.; Jorewitz, M.; Asmis, K. R.
    Valence and Structure Isomerism of Al2FeO4+: Synergy of Spectroscopy and Quantum Chemistry
    Journal of the American Chemical Society. 2020. 142 (42). pp. 18050–18059.
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  • Hoffmann, B.; Esser, T.; Abel, B.; Asmis, K. R.
    Electronic Action Spectroscopy on Single Nanoparticles in the Gas Phase
    Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters. 2020. 11 (15). pp. 6051–6056.
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  • Schwarz, H.; Asmis, K. R.
    Identification of Active Sites and Structural Characterization of Reactive Ionic Intermediates by Cryogenic Ion Trap Vibrational Spectroscopy
    Chemistry – A European Journal. 2019. 25 (9). pp. 2112–2126.
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  • Wolke, C. T.; Fournier, J. A.; Dzugan, L. C.; Fagiani, M. R.; Odbadrakh, T. T.; Knorke, H.; Jordan, K. D.; McCoy, A. B.; Asmis, K. R.; Johnson, M. A.
    Spectroscopic snapshots of the proton-transfer mechanism in water
    Science. 2016. 354 (6316). pp. 1131–1135.
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more publications

  • Andere herausragende Auszeichnungen: Professorship under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) President's International Fellowship Initiative (PIFI) for Visiting Scientists
    Asmis, Knut R. (Physikalische Chemie - kondensierte inhomogene Materie)
    awarded in 2015 by Chinese Academy of Sciences.
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  • Andere herausragende Auszeichnungen: Van 't Hoff Preis
    Asmis, Knut R. (Physikalische Chemie - kondensierte inhomogene Materie)
    awarded in 2023 by Deutsche Bunsengesellschaft.
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more awards

  • Konferenz
    Gordon Research Conference 2022: Molecular and Ionic Clusters
    Physikalische Chemie - kondensierte inhomogene Materie
    Event Organiser: Asmis, Knut R.
    23/01/2022 – 28/01/2022
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  • Konferenz
    705. WE Heraeus Seminar "Frontiers in Size‐Selected Cluster Research: Bridging the Gap”
    Physikalische Chemie - kondensierte inhomogene Materie
    Event Organiser: Asmis, Knut R.
    29/09/2019 – 03/10/2019
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more events

I teach to provide students of all disciplines with a sound, concept-oriented and modern education in the field of physical chemistry. To this end, I have fundamentally redesigned all my lectures taking into account the concept of "peer instruction" (E. Mazur, Harvard) and using an interactive clicker system.