Profile
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.
- show detailsMixed Metal Oxide Clusters: Model Systems for Catalytically Active MaterialsAsmis, Knut R.Duration: 02/2020 – 01/2023Funded by: DFG Deutsche ForschungsgemeinschaftInvolved organisational units of Leipzig University: Physikalische Chemie - kondensierte inhomogene Materie; Wilhelm-Ostwald-Institut für Physikalische und Theoretische Chemie
- show detailsHeterogeneously catalysed synthesis processes in flow-through systemsSchneider, ChristophDuration: 01/2020 – 12/2022Funded 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
- show detailsSingle Nanoparticle Action SpectroscopyAsmis, Knut R.Duration: 04/2021 – ongoingFunded 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
- show detailsFemtosecond laser spectroscopyAsmis, Knut R.Duration: 07/2018 – ongoingFunded by: DFG Deutsche ForschungsgemeinschaftInvolved organisational units of Leipzig University: Physikalische Chemie - kondensierte inhomogene Materie; Wilhelm-Ostwald-Institut für Physikalische und Theoretische Chemie
- show detailsGRK 2721: Hydrogen Isotopes 1,2,3HAsmis, Knut R.Duration: 10/2021 – 03/2026Funded by: DFG Deutsche ForschungsgemeinschaftInvolved organisational units of Leipzig University: Wilhelm-Ostwald-Institut für Physikalische und Theoretische Chemie; Fakultät für Physik und Erdsystemwissenschaften; Fakultät für Chemie und Mineralogie
- show detailsMayer, M.; Asmis, K. R.Online Monitoring of Isomeric Reaction IntermediatesThe Journal of Physica Chemistry A. 2021. 125 (14). pp. 2801–2815.
- show detailsMueller, 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 ChemistryJournal of the American Chemical Society. 2020. 142 (42). pp. 18050–18059.DOI: 10.1021/jacs.0c07158
- show detailsHoffmann, B.; Esser, T.; Abel, B.; Asmis, K. R.Electronic Action Spectroscopy on Single Nanoparticles in the Gas PhaseJournal of Physical Chemistry Letters. 2020. 11 (15). pp. 6051–6056.
- show detailsSchwarz, H.; Asmis, K. R.Identification of Active Sites and Structural Characterization of Reactive Ionic Intermediates by Cryogenic Ion Trap Vibrational SpectroscopyChemistry – A European Journal. 2019. 25 (9). pp. 2112–2126.
- show detailsWolke, 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 waterScience. 2016. 354 (6316). pp. 1131–1135.
- Andere herausragende Auszeichnungen: Professorship under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) President's International Fellowship Initiative (PIFI) for Visiting Scientistsshow detailsAsmis, Knut R. (Physikalische Chemie - kondensierte inhomogene Materie)awarded in 2015 by Chinese Academy of Sciences.
- Andere herausragende Auszeichnungen: Van 't Hoff Preisshow detailsAsmis, Knut R. (Physikalische Chemie - kondensierte inhomogene Materie)awarded in 2023 by Deutsche Bunsengesellschaft.
- show detailsKonferenzGordon Research Conference 2022: Molecular and Ionic ClustersPhysikalische Chemie - kondensierte inhomogene MaterieEvent Organiser: Asmis, Knut R.23/01/2022 – 28/01/2022
- show detailsKonferenz705. WE Heraeus Seminar "Frontiers in Size‐Selected Cluster Research: Bridging the Gap”Physikalische Chemie - kondensierte inhomogene MaterieEvent Organiser: Asmis, Knut R.29/09/2019 – 03/10/2019
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.