Hubert Motschmann

Professor Hubert Motschmann is a distinguished academic in the Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy at the University of Regensburg, where he leads the Solution Chemistry Group focusing on Nonlinear Optics and the Chemistry of Interfaces within the Department of Physical Chemistry. His research group investigates liquid-air and liquid-liquid interfaces at the molecular scale and relates this knowledge to colloidal systems characterized by unusual surface/volume ratios.

Professor Motschmann's educational background includes Chemistry studies at the Friedrich Alexander University in Erlangen-Nürnberg. He completed his diploma thesis titled "Numerical and analytical studies of the quantum dynamical equation of Davidov solititons" at the chair of Theoretical Chemistry, followed by PhD research at the Max-Planck-Institute of Polymer Research in Mainz under Prof. Dr. E.W. Fischer, where he explored scaling laws of end-adsorbed polymers in good solvent conditions. After a post-doctoral position at Eastman Kodak in Rochester, New York, he spent nearly two decades as a staff scientist at the Max-Planck-Institute of Colloids and Interfaces in Potsdam, where he established the research group "Molecular Organization in Soluble Monolayers and Functional Films" and taught Physical Chemistry at the University of Potsdam.

Professor Motschmann's primary research interests focus on understanding the self-organization of molecules at interfaces and their corresponding static and dynamic properties, which define a central theme of Colloid and Interface Science. His group aims to contribute to a better understanding of interface-dominated systems such as foams or emulsions, exploring the relationship between the microscopic structure of an adsorption layer and the molecular structure of its constituent molecules. They employ a suite of sophisticated techniques including Infrared-Visible Sum-Frequency Spectroscopy, Second Harmonic Generation, and pump-probe experiments, alongside traditional techniques like ellipsometry and Brewster angle microscopy applied in novel ways.

An analysis of Professor Motschmann's recent publications reveals a consistent focus on surface and interfacial phenomena, particularly examining the rheological properties of interfaces and their relationship to macroscopic behaviors. His work spans fundamental investigations of ion distributions at air-water interfaces to practical applications in foam stability and biopharmaceutical endotoxin detection. The research demonstrates a strong interdisciplinary approach, bridging physical chemistry with materials science, biology, and engineering principles.

Professor Motschmann has also established the company Optrel, located in the Greater Berlin area, which focuses on designing instrumentation for investigating interfaces and thin films. This entrepreneurial venture complements his academic research by translating fundamental insights into practical measurement technologies.