Using X-ray diffraction it is possible to determine and explore the three-dimensional atomic structure of chemical compounds, materials and proteins.

The atomic arrangement is the basis for understanding the properties, whether it is materials properties or reaction mechanisms in enzymes. This combined knowledge is the key to improve and manipulate structures and the design of new pharmaceuticals.

Our group covers the full range from small molecule to protein structures. The work is highly interdisciplinary and includes basic chemistry, physics and biology as well as computer programming and biotechnology. The group has state-of-the-art X-ray diffractometers for powders and single-crystals and access to powerful X-ray synchrotron sources around the world.

Main Research Fields

• Structures and properties of porous materials as zeolites and metal-organic frameworks (MOF)

• New functional materials  

• Strontium and osteoporosis  

• Structure of proteins involved in the nucleotide metabolism

• Powder diffraction of proteins

• Characterising metalloproteins with X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAFS