MALDI-ToF mass spectrometer

• Subject Area: Polymer Research
• Term: Funded in 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 446537989

A MALDI-ToF spectrometer is applied for to investigate important and fundamental questions and research fields in the group of M. Sommer at TU Chemnitz. Such equipment does not exist at TU Chemnitz and is to be purchased in the context of the move of M. Sommer to Chemnitz as Full Professor for Polymer Chemistry. Further groups at the Institute for Chemistry at TU Chemnitz will use this equipment also. The scientific topics to be supported by MALDI-ToF include mass spectrometric analysis of macrocycles, discrete oligomers and polymers of all kinds. Absolute molar masses including end groups are to be determined not only to provide fundamental characterization but also to investigate mechanistic aspects of polymerisations. Examples for materials to be investigated are: conjugated, discrete oligomers, conjugated polymers of all kinds and for various applications, ring formation of conjugated (co)monomers with meta-substituted structure, end group functionalisation of polymers made by ATRP, triazole-based macrocycles, naphthalene bisimide-based receptors, statistical copolymers and new polycondensates based on imines. Mechanistic investigations include the temporal evolution of end groups during polycondensation to reveal mechanistic details and factors limiting molar mass. The applied MALDI-ToF spectrometer is an essential part supporting the group´s activities, which is currently organized by collaborations.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: MALDI-ToF Massenspektrometer
• Instrumentation Group: 1700 Massenspektrometer
• Applicant Institution: Technische Universität Chemnitz
• Leader: Professor Dr. Michael Sommer