Solvation Science alive:

RESOLV News

Overview

Posted on 08/28/2026

Dr. Claudius Hoberg measures the laser power of an ultrashort time spectrometer. This setup allows for the real-time observation of solvent processes that occur on timescales in the picosecond range. © RUB, Kramer

A transmission cell is filled with an aqueous sample solution. The solution is held between two synthetic diamond discs at a precisely defined distance. The temperature in the measurement cell can be fine-tuned, and the solution can be analyzed under extreme pressure. The experiment is conducted in the terahertz spectral range. © RUB, Kramer

To detect terahertz radiation, special detectors are used that operate at very low temperatures. In the photo, Simon Schulke is filling an infrared detector with liquid nitrogen, which allows for temperatures as low as minus 196 degrees Celsius. © RUB, Kramer

Weak bonds, strong impact

For about 15 years, newly developed methods have made it possible to examine water in detail. The crucial role this small molecule plays in chemical and biological processes is becoming increasingly clear.

Hydrogen bonds make water what it is: the elixir of life. Researchers of the Excellence Cluster RESOLV are investigating the dance of the molecules and monitor how flexible the bond is.

In an interview with the science magazine of Ruhr University Bochum, RESOLV spokesperson Prof. Martina Havenith explains how water influences chemical reactions, the role that hydrogen bonds play in this, and the conditions in which water gets really aggressive.

Read the full interview