Dr. Gerhard Koßmehl is a distinguished organic chemist whose pioneering work in polymer chemistry has significantly advanced the field of conjugated organic materials. He served as Professor of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry at Freie Universität Berlin for over four decades, beginning his tenure in 1970 following his successful Habilitation at the same institution. Dr. Koßmehl completed his foundational chemistry education in Berlin, earning his Diplom and doctorate (Promotion) in Chemistry from the Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft in Berlin in 1964. His international academic engagement included significant guest professorships at Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro in 1971 and 1979, and at the University of Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1988, which established important global scientific collaborations.
Dr. Koßmehl's groundbreaking research in polymer chemistry includes the seminal 1969 preparation of poly(thienylene vinylene), which laid important groundwork for the development of conductive polymers and organic electronics. His innovative work with Holzmann and Nuck on the identification of polymers using mass spectrometry techniques established new methodologies for characterizing complex polymer structures containing 1-trifluoromethylvinylene groups. His research extended into the practical application of functionalized polymers through electrochemical polymerization, particularly with thiophene derivatives, documented in the influential 1995 publications on reactive groups on polymer-covered electrodes. This work enabled the development of novel sensor systems for environmental monitoring, demonstrating the practical applications of fundamental polymer chemistry research.
Dr. Koßmehl's contributions have been instrumental in establishing the foundations of modern polymer-based sensor technology and advancing the understanding of conductive organic polymers. As an editor of the German edition of the seminal textbook Organic Chemistry by Allinger et al., he helped educate generations of chemistry students in German-speaking countries. His research on functionalized thiophene polymers for electrochemical applications continues to influence contemporary work in organic electronic materials and environmental detection systems. Though now Professor Emeritus from Freie Universität Berlin, his scientific legacy persists through the ongoing application of his methodologies in environmental monitoring and the continuing investigation of conjugated polymers for next-generation electronic devices.
