Carsten Milsmann is an Associate Professor at the University of Delaware's Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry. He holds a Ph.D. from the Max-Planck-Institute for Bioinorganic Chemistry (Ruhr University Bochum) and was an Alexander-von-Humboldt Postdoctoral Fellow at Princeton University. His research focuses on inorganic synthesis, photocatalysis, and sustainable chemistry, particularly developing Earth-abundant metal-based photosensitizers for energy-efficient processes. His work integrates organometallic chemistry, spectroscopy, and computational methods to design luminescent and photoactive materials. Recent research emphasizes ligand design for zirconium and iron complexes, exploring their applications in visible-light photocatalysis, photoluminescence, and triplet energy transfer. Notable contributions include the development of low-power photochemical upconverters and understanding magnetic anisotropy in transition metal complexes. The Milsmann Lab, moved to UD in 2024, investigates sustainable alternatives to precious metal catalysts, with projects spanning C-C bond formation, nitrene transfer, and photocatalytic systems. Publications highlight advancements in photophysical properties of group 14 compounds, actinide complex characterization, and mechanistic insights into photoinduced electron transfer. His research bridges fundamental inorganic chemistry with applied energy and materials science.










