Intermolecular Interactions and Vibrational Cluster Spectroscopy

The research in the René Wugt Larsen Group focuses on fundamental studies of intermolecular forces and their role in molecular recognition, hydrogen-bond rearrangements, and micro-solvation mechanisms. The group combines advanced low-temperature IR/THz cluster spectroscopy with quantum chemical modeling to explore weakly bound molecular systems. The work includes THz investigations of cluster molecules embedded in quantum matrices of neon or para-hydrogen, high-resolution gas-phase studies at synchrotron facilities, and collaborative research on functional molecular materials such as metal-organic frameworks, organometallic complexes, and polymer blends.

Research

Our research activities are centered on complementary experimental and theoretical investigations of weakly bound cluster molecules, using THz cluster spectroscopy in combination with first-principles quantum chemical methods. A key challenge addressed by the group is to understand how macroscopic material and life-science phenomena emerge from the interplay of hydrogen bonding, dispersion forces, and steric effects at the molecular scale.

Experimentally, the program involves THz studies of weakly bound cluster molecules embedded in soft quantum crystals of 99.9% enriched para-hydrogen, isolated in high-throughput pulsed supersonic jet expansions (in collaboration with external partners), and investigated by high-resolution THz gas-phase spectroscopy at large-scale synchrotron facilities such as SOLEIL and the Canadian Light Source. These studies provide detailed insights into molecular recognition and hydrogen-bond networks in micro-solvated systems.

Collaborations extend our expertise to applications in catalysis, green chemistry, functional polymers, and bio-catalysis through spectroscopic characterization of novel frameworks and complexes. Recently, the group has also initiated activities in resonance-enhanced nano-IR surface spectroscopy at nanometer resolution, opening new opportunities to investigate the adsorption of organic molecules at material surfaces.

Contact

René Wugt Larsen

René Wugt Larsen Associate Professor Phone: +45 45252027

Profile

ResearcherID: A-8341-2008

Education

2000-2004 Ph.D., Department of Chemical Physics, Lund University, Sweden
1992-1998 M.Sc., Department of Chemistry, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

International Experience

  • Guest Researcher, Institut für Physikalische Chemie, Universität Göttingen, Germany, 2010
  • Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, USA, 2008-2010
  • Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Institut für Physikalische Chemie, Universität Göttingen, Germany, 2006-2008
  • Doctoral Candidate, Department of Chemical Physics, Lund University, Sweden, 2000-2004

Funding

The research group acknowledges the financial support from the following funding agencies:

Danish National Research Foundation

Danish Council for Independent Research - Sapere Aude Programme

Carlsberg Foundation

Villum Foundation

Danish Hydrocarbon Research and Technology Centre (DHRTC)

Interreg

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Research Opportunities

Undergraduate students with a profound interest in physical chemistry at the molecular level are encouraged to contact Assoc. Professor René Wugt Larsen (rewl@kemi.dtu.dk) to inquire about potential B. Sc. and M. Sc. projects in the research group.

All PhD scholarships and postdoctoral positions will be posted here and on career.dtu.dk. Potential candidates aiming for postdoctoral fellowship grants from the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Programme or other external funding sources are welcome to inquire about research projects of mutual interest

Group members