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17.06.2026 14:44

Royal Society of Chemistry Honors TU Chemist Matthias Driess

Stefanie Terp Stabsstelle Kommunikation, Events und Alumni
Technische Universität Berlin

Prestigious Centenary Prize recognizes work on novel silicon compounds, sustainable catalysts, and innovative energy materials

Professor Dr. Matthias Driess, head of the Chair of Inorganic Chemistry/Metalorganic Chemistry at TU Berlin's Institute of Chemistry, has been awarded the Centenary Prize for Chemistry and Communication by the British Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). The RSC is thus honoring his groundbreaking contributions to molecular and materials chemistry, as well as his commitment to science communication. It is one of the most prestigious international awards in chemistry.

Matthias Driess' work combines basic research with applications of societal relevance. His research spans novel silicon compounds, more sustainable catalysts, and innovative, robust materials for energy and future technologies. The chemical elements he uses are generally abundant and readily available, rather than rare or environmentally harmful.

"Chemistry and chemical scientists shape our daily lives in many ways," says Dr. Helen Pain, CEO of the Royal Society of Chemistry. "The recipients of our research and innovation awards exemplify the enormous breadth and significance of the chemical sciences. With the Centenary Prize, we honor exceptional individuals who expand our knowledge and contribute to a better future."

"Matthias Driess' research combines scientific excellence with solutions to the key challenges of our time. His work on novel silicon compounds and sustainable catalysis demonstrates how basic research can pave the way for resource-efficient technologies," says TU Berlin President Professor Dr. Fatma Deniz. "This award from the Royal Society of Chemistry recognizes this outstanding scientific achievement and underscores TU Berlin's international standing in materials science and the natural sciences. On behalf of TU Berlin, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Matthias Driess on this achievement."

"I am deeply honored to receive this award," says Matthias Driess. "For me, chemistry is about understanding the fundamental principles that govern the structure of matter and chemical reactions in both living and non-living systems, and applying this knowledge to the development of new chemical building blocks and resource-efficient processes. This award encourages me and my research group to continue to develop environmentally friendly and more efficient energy materials through a clever combination of molecular and materials chemistry."

New possibilities in silicon chemistry

A primary focus of Matthias Driess' research is the development of novel silicon compounds in which silicon atoms are in electronically unusual arrangements. Silicon is the second most abundant element in the Earth's crust. It is, quite literally, thick on the ground, not to mention chemically similar to carbon, the key element of organic chemistry. However, silicon forms a much narrower range of bonds with other elements than carbon does. Driess' research group has shown that, through sophisticated synthetic chemistry, many compounds of organic chemistry can also be synthesized using silicon in place of carbon, thereby providing answers to fundamental questions in chemistry. Particularly noteworthy was the synthesis of the first stable "silanones," silicon analogs of ketones. For more than a 100 years, the synthesis of a silanone stable at room temperature had been considered one of the major challenges in silicon chemistry.

In addition, the research group succeeded in synthesizing a new class of silicon compounds, known as silylones, whose existence had been predicted by theoretical calculations. Silylones contain a highly reactive silicon atom that can easily cleave small molecules such as ammonia, despite its strong nitrogen–hydrogen bonds, and can also be readily transferred to unsaturated organic molecules. These remarkable properties had previously been observed only in rare and toxic precious metals such as iridium. The reactive, electrically quasi-neutral silicon atoms in silylones are also suitable for doping optoelectronic semiconductors used in light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and low-cost electroluminescent cameras.

Catalysts with greater sustainability

Another line of Matthias Driess' work is the development of new catalysts as part of the UniSysCat Cluster of Excellence at TU Berlin. The research group demonstrated that divalent silicon compounds, known as silylenes, enhance the performance of metal-based catalysts more effectively than the phosphine compounds that have been used to date. Building on these findings, the researchers developed highly selective catalysts for important chemical reactions. The use of nickel-containing compounds is particularly relevant here, as they can replace expensive precious metals such as palladium while being toxicologically safe. These catalysts are suitable for a key step in the production of numerous chemical products, such as fats derived from oils, active ingredients in the pharmaceutical industry, and organic hydrogen storage materials. This opens up new possibilities for chemical processes that are both more resource-efficient and cost-effective.

Materials for the energy transition

In addition to developing novel silicon compounds, Matthias Driess has been working for many years to produce innovative materials for energy and future technologies. His research combines methods from molecular chemistry and materials science. One example is the development of a new variant of the transparent and conductive material indium tin oxide (ITO), which is used in applications such as flat-panel displays, solar cells, and electronic components. Conventional ITO consists of approximately 90% indium oxide and 10% tin oxide. The challenge is that indium is scarce, while demand for ITO in optoelectronics is rising sharply. The researchers succeeded in reducing the proportion of indium by some 50% without compromising the material's electrical conductivity. At the same time, thin layers of the material in electroluminescent devices such as LEDs showed energy savings of about 30%. The technology was jointly patented by TU Berlin and Evonik and is already being used on a pilot scale.

The research group also produced thin layers of porous ITO that can serve as conductive electrodes and can be loaded with molecular or enzymatic catalysts. Among other applications, these materials can be used in biofuel cells that operate without the need for the expensive precious metal platinum. In addition, the team developed novel catalysts for water electrolysis. In this process, water is split into hydrogen and oxygen using electrical energy – an important process for producing hydrogen as an energy source without relying on fossil fuels. To achieve this, the researchers developed materials that contain no precious metals and remain stable over long periods, even under the demanding conditions of industrial applications.

Inspiration from nature

A further focus of Matthias Driess' research is the question of how natural processes can be harnessed for technical applications. Inspired by the natural processes of photosynthesis, his research group developed a novel catalyst based on manganese, an abundant element. This catalyst enables the efficient splitting of water, releasing electrons in the process. These electrons can then be used to convert carbon dioxide into key chemical feedstocks and to produce hydrogen. The oxygen generated during water splitting can, for example, be used to produce high-quality diesel fuel from the hemicellulose found in wood.

Chemistry as an art form

For Matthias Driess, however, chemistry is also an art. He also studied philosophy and developed a passion for art, theater, and literary projects. Together with actors from the College of Fine Arts at the Berlin University of the Arts, and in cooperation with the Einstein Foundation Berlin, he directed the German premiere of the stage reading of Carl Djerassi’s "science-in-theatre" play "Insufficency".

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Wissenschaftliche Ansprechpartner:

Chair of Inorganic Chemistry/Metalorganic Chemistry
Institute of Chemistry
Faculty II – Mathematics and Natural Sciences
Technische Universität Berlin
Phone: 030 314-29731
Email: matthias.driess@tu-berlin.de

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Matthias Driess' work combines basic research with applications of societal relevance.
Quelle: Kevin Fuchs
Copyright: TU Berlin/Kevin Fuchs

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