Peter Hesemann

Peter Hesemann is a CNRS Research Director (since 2011, DR1 since 2021) at the Institut Charles Gerhardt Montpellier (ICGM - UMR5253), University of Montpellier, where he leads research in porous and hybrid materials within the Pôle Chimie Balard Recherche. His career spans undergraduate studies at Cologne and Marburg Universities (1986-1991), a PhD from Marburg (1991-1994), postdoctoral work at Montpellier (1995-1996), CNRS Junior Researcher position (1997), and Habilitation (2007).

• PhD: University of Marburg (1994)
• Postdoc: University Montpellier 2 (1995-1996)
• Chargé de Recherche CNRS (1997)
• Habilitation: Université Montpellier 2 (2007)
• Directeur de Recherche CNRS (2011-present, DR1 since 2021)

His research focuses on ionosilicas (nanostructured silica hybrid materials with ionic substructures), mesoporous materials, and ionic liquids for applications spanning heterogeneous catalysis, biomedical theranostics, environmental remediation, and energy storage. Key themes include sol-gel chemistry, functional ionic materials, and biomass valorization. His work demonstrates strong interdisciplinary connections between materials chemistry, nanotechnology, and sustainable engineering.

Recent publications reveal a clear trajectory toward biomedical applications of ionosilica nanoparticles, particularly for photodynamic therapy and siRNA delivery, alongside persistent exploration of environmental applications including pollutant adsorption and biomass conversion. The integration of ionic liquid chemistry with silica frameworks remains a consistent methodological thread across all application domains.

Hesemann actively collaborates with researchers across France and internationally, evidenced by multi-institutional publications involving University Montpellier, CNRS laboratories, and international partners in Germany, Tunisia, and Egypt. His work appears consistently in high-impact journals including ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, Green Chemistry, and Nanoscale.

He maintains leadership in the ICGM research unit, contributing to institutional research strategy while directing experimental work on ionosilica synthesis and characterization. His laboratory focuses on developing novel porous hybrid materials with tailored surface properties for specific technological applications.