Günther Rupprechter
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Günther Rupprechter | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | July 1, 1966 (age 59) |
| Citizenship | Austrian |
| Alma mater | University of Innsbruck |
| Known for | Physical chemistry, Surface science, Nanoscience, Nanotechnology |
| Awards | Jochen Block Award of the German Catalysis Society (DECHEMA) European Academy of Sciences (EurASc) |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | Technische Universität Wien
Fritz Haber Institute Max Planck Society Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory University of California at Berkeley University of Innsbruck |
| Website | https://www.tuwien.at/tch/imc |
Professor Günther Rupprechter (born July 1, 1966, in Jenbach, Austria) is an Austrian scientist, full professor and currently Head of the Institute of Materials Chemistry,[1] Technische Universität Wien (TU Wien). He has worked in physical chemistry, surface science, nanoscience and nanotechnology, particularly in the area of catalytic surface reactions on heterogeneous catalysts, identifying fundamental reaction steps at the atomic level by in situ and operando spectroscopy and microscopy.
Rupprechter is "Director of Research" (speaker) of the FWF-funded Cluster of Excellence[2] "Materials for Energy Conversion and Storage (COE MECS)",[3] including 19 research groups at 4 Austrian universities/institutions. The COE MECS (2023–2028, with an option of extension to 2033) is one of three COEs in the natural sciences (among five first Clusters of Excellence in Austria[2]).
Günther Rupprechter earned a Master of Science in Chemistry (Mag. rer. nat.) with summa cum laude honors from the University of Innsbruck, Austria, in 1992. In his PhD in Physical Chemistry (Dr. rer. nat.), he worked with Konrad Hayek[4][5] at the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the University of Innsbruck, Austria. Rupprechter studied nanocatalysts[6][7] by high resolution electron microscopy and got his PhD in 1996, also with summa cum laude honors. Part of the thesis work was carried out at the Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics (Halle an der Saale, Germany).[citation needed]
Career
After postdoctoral research in the Department of Chemistry of the University of California at Berkeley and E.O. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (1996–1998 with Prof. Gábor A. Somorjai),[8] Rupprechter became Group Leader for Laser Spectroscopy & Catalysis (1998–2006) at the Fritz Haber Institute, Max Planck Society, Chemical Physics Department, Berlin, Germany. In 2005, he was awarded a Habilitation in Physical Chemistry from Technische Universität Berlin, Germany.[citation needed] In the same year, Rupprechter was appointed Professor (chair) of Surface & Interface Chemistry at the Institute of Materials Chemistry,[1] Technische Universität Wien (TU Wien), Austria. Since 2010, he is Head of the institute.[1]
Research
Rupprechter's current research interests are primarily focused on catalytic surface reactions on heterogeneous catalysts. His research group[9] employs a four-pronged approach:
- Surface-Science-Based Model Catalysts: Prof. Rupprechter's work on planar model catalysts aims to understand fundamental processes that occur on catalytic surfaces via in situ/operando surface spectroscopy and microscopy,[10] bridging both the materials and pressure gaps.[11]
- Atomically Precise Clusters: He investigates atomically precise clusters to gain insights and control the behavior of catalytic materials.
- Industrial-Grade Nanomaterials: His research extends to the study of industrial-grade nanomaterials, which have practical applications in catalytic processes.
- Microkinetic Modeling and Simulation: The interpretation and verification of experimental operando spectra/images/patterns typically rely on theoretical support.
Rupprechter's overarching goal is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of reactions relevant to a clean environment, energy conversion, and efficient resource utilization. Among others, molecular mechanisms of hydrogen as clean fuel, methane reforming, CO2 and olefin hydrogenation, efficient automotive catalysis, and waste valorization were studied. Materials of interest include mono- (Pt, Pd, Rh, Cu, Ni, Au, Co) and bimetallic (PdZn, Pd2Ga, PdCu, CuNi, CuZn, PdAu, AgAu, CuAu, RhAu) nanoparticles on supporting (mixed) oxides (Al2O3, SiO2, CeO2, PrO2, ZrO2, TiO2, ZnO, MgO, Ga2O3, Co3O4), perovskites (LCO, LSF), and carbon (HOPG, GR, GR-NPs).
Academic Leadership
From 2011 to 2019, Rupprechter served as the Speaker/Coordinator of the FWF-funded Special Research Program (SFB) "Functional Oxide Surfaces and Interfaces (FOXSI),[12]" involving 150 researchers in 10 research groups. He directed the TU Wien funded Doctorate school "Catalysis Materials and Technology" with 11 research groups from 2011 to 2014.
Since Oct. 1st, 2023, Prof. Rupprechter holds the position of "Director of Research" of the FWF-funded Cluster of Excellence "Materials for Energy Conversion and Storage (MECS)."[3][2]
Prof. Rupprechter has/had several leadership roles in professional societies such as the Austrian Chemical Society (GÖCH) and the Chemical Physical Society.[13] He is Vicechair of the Austrian Catalysis Society, thus Austrian Representative in the European Federation of Catalysis Societies (EFCATS)[14] and the International Association of Catalysis Societies (IACS).[15] He has been Austrian Representative in various European COST Actions:[16] CA22123 - European Materials Acceleration Center for Energy (EU-MACE; Management Committee);[17] MP0903 - Nanoalloys as advanced materials: from structure to properties and applications (NANOALLOY; Management Committee);[18] CM0904 - Network for intermetallic compounds as catalysts for steam reforming of methanol (IMC-SRM; Vice Chair, Management Committee; STSM Coordinator);[19] 540 - Photocatalytic technologies and novel nanosurfaces materials - critical issues (PHONASUM; Management Committee).[20]
Rupprechter has (co-)organized of academic conferences and summer schools, e.g. the annual "International Workshop on Chemistry and Physics of Novel Materials"[21] (with P. Blaha), the EFCATS Summer School "Engineering Materials for Catalysis 2020" (with Albin Pintar and Nataša Novak Tušar: Portorož-Portorose, Slovenia), the Faraday Discussion on "Photoelectron Spectroscopy: New Horizons in Surface Analysis", London, UK (2022), the "GÖCh-Symposium - Physikalische Chemie und Elektrochemie in Österreich 2023"[22] and the upcoming 16th Pannonian International Symposium on Catalysis (Seggau/Styria, Austria; September 1–5, 2024; with C. Rameshan).[23]
Awards and honors
Rupprechter has received several awards and honors including:
- Jochen Block Award of the German Catalysis Society (DECHEMA) in 2005 for his contributions to applying surface science methods to heterogeneous catalysis.[24]
- Corresponding Member of the Austrian Academy of Sciences since 2012.[25]
- Visiting professor at Shanghai University of Engineering Science from 2018 to 2022.[citation needed]
- Guest Professor at Kasetsart University Bangkok in 2023.[citation needed]
- Fellow of the European Academy of Sciences (EurASc) since 2023.[26]
Editorial Activities
Academic Supervision
Rupprechter has been involved in academic supervision, having supervised 22 Post-docs and 27 PhD students.