News: New salt-like compounds

Dr Stefanie Gärtner was awarded this year's Maria Weber Grant. The Hans Böckler Foundation is using the award to fund a temporary partial replacement of her teaching duties for two semesters with a total of 40,000 euros. The chemist, who is currently in the final phase of her habilitation in inorganic chemistry, is working on salt-like structures. She is not interested in conventional, well-researched salts that are formed in a chemical reaction between a metal and a non-metal. Her field of research is special salt-like compounds that are formed exclusively from metals and are also known as "Zintl phases". She is particularly interested in the intermetallic phases of the elements thallium and indium, which she combines with reactive alkali metals to form new compounds with previously unknown properties. These two metals have been little researched in such structures to date. Thallium is not only particularly toxic, but also eluded analysis using conventional methods for a long time due to its strong absorption of X-rays. "Measurements with modern X-ray diffractometers now allow exciting new insights into the structural chemistry of this metal," says the senior academic advisor. With her basic research, the head of a junior research group wants to contribute to closing existing knowledge gaps. Basic research creates fundamental knowledge for many areas of further research and is therefore an essential starting point for far-reaching discoveries.

The Maria Weber Grant has been awarded by the Hans Böckler Foundation since 2018. The grant is named after the deputy chairwoman of the German Trade Union Confederation from 1972 to 1982 and is aimed at outstanding post-doctoral students and junior professors. Applicants can apply for a replacement for up to twelve months to take over some of their teaching duties in order to free up time for their research. Funds of up to €40,000 (a lump sum of €20,000 per semester) are granted for the teaching buyout to pay for the partial replacement. Junior professors applying for the grant must have already undergone a positive interim evaluation, post-doctoral lecturers must enclose an expert report. In addition, the Hans Böckler Foundation carries out a peer review process.