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The University of Southampton
Chemistry
Email:
rt2y19@soton.ac.uk

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).

Research interests

My current research interests involve cryogenic NMR measurements on alkali endofullerides and the development of a theoretical model, describing the endohedral nuclei’s behaviour in the superconducting state. Moreover, I’m performing the synthesis and characterization of alkali endofullerides by solid state synthesis. The used endofullerenes are provided by the group of Richard J Whitby from the institute of organic chemistry at the University of Southampton.

PhD supervision: Prof. Christoph Janiak, HHU Düsseldorf (Germany), Dr Nader de Sousa Amadeu; Federal Agency of Education and Research (BMBF)

PhD title: ‘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’

Research group

Magnetic Resonance

Affiliate research group

Synthesis, Catalysis and Flow

Dr Roland Thoma
University of Southampton
School of Chemistry
Office: 330/3047

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