Dr Roland Thoma Dipl.-Chem.
Research Fellow
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Dr Roland Thoma is Research Fellow at the University of Southampton in NMR spectroscopy of endofullerenes.
Using the power of NMR spectroscopy in order to gain a deeper understanding of fulleride superconductors.
NMR spectroscopy is a unique method for the investigation of molecular processes in solids. Since superconductivity is one of the most important topics for humanity’s future and a not yet well understood effect of certain materials at low temperatures. Endofullerenes opened a very novel way in probing the superconducting state in materials known as alkali fullerides. By using substances like Rb3(H2@C60), Rb3(HD@C60) or Rb3(He@C60), and cryogenic conditions (T < 30 K), we’re able to gather information about the superconducting state by observing temperature dependent NMR spectra of endo- and exohedral nuclei as well as their relaxation behaviour.
I’ve studied chemistry at Heidelberg University in Germany, finished my diploma thesis on ‘Synthesis of benzylguanine conjugated oligonucleotides for specific protein labelling’ in the workgroup of Prof Dirk Peter Herten at the institute of physical chemistry. My PhD thesis on ‘Investigation of guest-diffusion in porous materials using pulsed field gradient nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (PFG-NMR) and conformational studies on N,O-substituted hydroxamates by dynamic 1D- and 2D-NMR methods’ was accomplished at the Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf in the workgroup of Prof Christoph Janiak, in the institute of structural- and inorganic chemistry. Afterwards, I worked as an entrepreneur in my own company (tbrt), mainly focused on business consulting in the field of regulatory affairs. During this time, I’ve developed a python driven software (ProSD) as well as a biomineralization process in close cooperation with Prof Ilka Axmann (HHU Duesseldorf).