"The increasing global demands for materials and energy directly contributes to the devastating ecological, toxicological, and climate consequences currently observed. Biomass-derived energy and materials offers a sustainable option to meeting current needs and developing novel materials. Hydrothermal carbonization is a promising green platform to valorize biomass by forming Hydrochar, a carbon solid. Hydrothermal carbonization converts biomass using liquid phase water at elevated temperatures (180-350 °C), forming organic intermediates, which dehydrate and polymerize to form the solid material on time scales of several hours. Hydrochar shows promise for a wide variety of applications, including aqueous heavy-metal adsorption. The complexity of the hydrochar prevents reliable characterization, hindering a full understanding of how to optimize the material. The focus of this study was to develop spectroscopic methods better understand the material as it changes with reaction time (ex-situ). This study developed IR and Raman Spectroscopy and Mass Spectrometry (MS) methods. Hydrochars were prepared from glucose (a model for biomass) and were prepared at different reaction times between 3 and 24 hours to understand the formation of the material and how it matures under process conditions (180 °C, autogenous pressure). IR and MS identified hydroxyl and ketone functionalities and aliphatic, furanic, and aromatic moieties, and both techniques indicated decreasing hydroxyl and furan content and increasing methyl and aromatic content. The Raman spectra were consistent with aldehyde-functionalized 1- and 2-ring arenes and aldehyde-functionalized furans, and indicated increasing 2-ring arene content relative to 1-ring arenes. MS showed a significant increase in the aromatic to furan ratio, and MS confirmed the increase in 2-ring arenes relative to 1-ring arenes seen in the Raman. These spectroscopic methods are in good agreement and will allow for greater chemical information in the hydrochar, which will inform the link between material modification under process conditions and application performance."

<p>Catalysts play an essential role in nearly every chemical production process. Platinum supported on high surface area carbon substrates (Pt/C) is one of the promising candidates as an electrocatalyst in low temperature polymer electrolyte fuel cells. Developing the activity of the Pt/C catalyst with narrow Pt particle size distribution and good dispersion has been a main concern in current research.</p> <p><br /> In this study, the main objective was the development and characterization of inexpensive and effective nanophase Pt/C electrocatalysts. A set of modified Pt/C electrocatalysts with high electrochemical activity and low loading of noble metal was prepared by the impregnation-reduction method in this research. The four home-made catalysts synthesized by different treatments conditions were characterized by several techniques such as EDS, TEM, XRD, AAS, TGA, BET and CV.</p> <p><br /> Pt electrocatalysts supported on acid treatment Vulcan XC-72 electrocatalysts were produced successfully. The results showed that Pt particle sizes of Pt/C (PrOH)x catalysts between 2.45 and 2.81nm were obtained with homogeneous dispersion, which were more uniform than the commercial Pt/C (JM) catalyst. In the electrochemical activity tests, ORR was confirmed as a structure-sensitive reaction. The Pt/C (PrOH/pH2.5) showed promising results during chemically-active surface area investigation, which compared well with that of the commercial standard Johnson Matthey Pt/C catalyst. The active surface area of Pt/C (PrOH/pH2.5) at 17.98m2/g, was higher than that of the commercial catalyst (17.22 m2/g ) under the conditions applied. In a CV electrochemical activity test of Pt/C catalysts using a Fe2+/Fe3+ mediator system study, Pt/C (PrOH/pH2.5) (67mA/cm2) also showed promise as a catalyst as the current density is comparable to that of the commercial Pt/C (JM) (62mA/cm2).</p> <p><br /> A remarkable achievement was attained in this study: the electrocatalyst Pt supported on CNTs was synthesized effectively. This method resulted in the smallest Pt particle size 2.15nm. In the electrochemically-active surface area study, the Pt/CNT exhibited a significantly greater active surface area (27.03 m2/g) and higher current density (100 mA/cm2) in the Fe2+/Fe3+ electrochemical mediator system than the other home-made Pt/C catalysts, as well as being significantly higher than the commercial Pt/C (JM) catalysts. Pt/CNT catalyst produced the best electrochemical activities in both H2SO4 and K4[Fe(CN)6] electrolytes. As a result of the characteristics of Pt/CNT，it can be deduced that the Pt/CNT is the best electrocatalyst prepared in this study and has great potential for use in fuel cell applications.</p>

<p>Catalysts play an essential role in nearly every chemical production process. Platinum supported on high surface area carbon substrates (Pt/C) is one of the promising candidates as an electrocatalyst in low temperature polymer electrolyte fuel cells. Developing the activity of the Pt/C catalyst with narrow Pt particle size distribution and good dispersion has been a main concern in current research.</p> <p><br /> In this study, the main objective was the development and characterization of inexpensive and effective nanophase Pt/C electrocatalysts. A set of modified Pt/C electrocatalysts with high electrochemical activity and low loading of noble metal was prepared by the impregnation-reduction method in this research. The four home-made catalysts synthesized by different treatments conditions were characterized by several techniques such as EDS, TEM, XRD, AAS, TGA, BET and CV.</p> <p><br /> Pt electrocatalysts supported on acid treatment Vulcan XC-72 electrocatalysts were produced successfully. The results showed that Pt particle sizes of Pt/C (PrOH)x catalysts between 2.45 and 2.81nm were obtained with homogeneous dispersion, which were more uniform than the commercial Pt/C (JM) catalyst. In the electrochemical activity tests, ORR was confirmed as a structure-sensitive reaction. The Pt/C (PrOH/pH2.5) showed promising results during chemically-active surface area investigation, which compared well with that of the commercial standard Johnson Matthey Pt/C catalyst. The active surface area of Pt/C (PrOH/pH2.5) at 17.98m2/g, was higher than that of the commercial catalyst (17.22 m2/g ) under the conditions applied. In a CV electrochemical activity test of Pt/C catalysts using a Fe2+/Fe3+ mediator system study, Pt/C (PrOH/pH2.5) (67mA/cm2) also showed promise as a catalyst as the current density is comparable to that of the commercial Pt/C (JM) (62mA/cm2).</p> <p><br /> A remarkable achievement was attained in this study: the electrocatalyst Pt supported on CNTs was synthesized effectively. This method resulted in the smallest Pt particle size 2.15nm. In the electrochemically-active surface area study, the Pt/CNT exhibited a significantly greater active surface area (27.03 m2/g) and higher current density (100 mA/cm2) in the Fe2+/Fe3+ electrochemical mediator system than the other home-made Pt/C catalysts, as well as being significantly higher than the commercial Pt/C (JM) catalysts. Pt/CNT catalyst produced the best electrochemical activities in both H2SO4 and K4[Fe(CN)6] electrolytes. As a result of the characteristics of Pt/CNT，it can be deduced that the Pt/CNT is the best electrocatalyst prepared in this study and has great potential for use in fuel cell applications.</p>

Cette étude s'intéresse aux performances des matériaux composites Carbone/Carbone 2,5D lors d'un freinage aéronautique de basse énergie. Durant la vie avion, l'état de surface des disques de frein évolue et les performances de freinage s'en trouvent modifiées. Les études expérimentales et les modélisations réalisées ont pour buts la maîtrise et la prédiction de l'évolution des propriétés de la surface, cela en fonction à la fois des conditions tribologiques mais également de la distance dans deux environnements d'étude: à sec et lubrifié. Un premier volet de ce travail consiste à caractériser finement le comportement mécanique en compression du composite Carbone/Carbone 2,5D, afin de comprendre les répercussions du frottement en sous-couche. Après la détermination des caractéristiques élastiques du matériau, le comportement élasto-endommageable en compression est relevé. Ces caractéristiques sont implémentées dans une simulation 1D et permettent de reproduire les courbes d'essais de compression cyclique à contrainte croissante. Parallèlement, une étude du comportement tribologique du C/C 2,5D à sec via des essais courts a permis de connaître les caractéristiques des coefficients de frottement de différents états de surface. Les coefficients de frottement moyens sont mis en relation avec le paramètre de rugosité Sk. Les essais tribologiques longue distance mis en oeuvre ont modifié l'état de surface des échantillons tant sur le plan topographique que sur le plan morphologique. Des fissures en sous-couche apparaissent, conséquence des efforts tribologiques subis. Ces observations ont menés à la détermination d'un mécanisme d'évolution d'état de surface des disques en environnement sec. Enfin, deux types d'essais en environnement lubrifié ont été proposés, afin de séparer le comportement ponctuel d'un état de surface du comportement tribologique avec la distance. Premièrement, une procédure d'essais tribologiques courts a été mise en place et s'affiche comme un moyen de caractérisation d'état de surface in-situ à part entière, avec des caractéristiques des courbes de Stribeck directement liées aux états morphologiques et topographiques. Ensuite, un plan d'expérience réunit les essais longs destinés à modifier l'état de surface d'éprouvettes pour plusieurs jeux de paramètres tribologiques. Les courbes de Stribeck de ces nouveaux états de surface sont analysées. Ainsi, les états de surface expérimentaux sont comparés à ceux des disques de frein industriels. / This study focuses on the performance of 2.5D Carbon/Carbon composite materials for low energy aeronautical braking. During aircraft life, the surface condition of the brake discs evolves and the braking performances change. The experimental studies and the modelizations carried out aim in controlling and predicting the evolution of surface properties, both in terms of the tribological conditions but also of the distance in two study environments: dry and lubricated. For this purpose, a characterization of the mechanical behavior in compression of the 2.5D Carbon/Carbon composite is performed in order to understand the repercussions of friction underlayer. The elastic characteristics of the material and the elasto-damaging behavior in compression are identified. These characteristics are used in a 1D simulation, that allows reproducing the cyclic compression test curves with increasing stress. At the same time, a study of the tribological behavior of the dry 2.5D C/C composite via short tests made it possible to know the friction coefficient of different surface conditions. The average friction coefficients are related to the roughness. The long-range tribological tests used have modified the topographic and morphological surface conditions of the samples. Cracks appear at the underlayer, as a result of the tribological efforts. These observations led to the determination of a mechanism for the evolution of surface condition of discs in a dry environment. Finally, two types of lubricated environment tests have been proposed in order to separate the instantaneous behavior of a surface state from the tribological behavior with the distance. First, a short tribological test procedure is set up and is displayed as a means of in-situ surface condition characterization in its own right, with characteristics of the Stribeck curves directly related to the morphological and topographical states. Next, an experimental plan combines long tests to modify the surface condition of test pieces for several sets of tribological parameters. The Stribeck curves of these new surface states are analyzed. Experimental surface conditions are compared with those of industrial brake disks.

Im Fokus dieser Arbeit standen zwei Ziele. Zum einem war es Forschungsgegenstand, dass Konzept der Zwillingspolymerisation auf germaniumhaltige, molekulare Vorstufen wie zum Beispiel Germylene, spirozyklische Germaniumverbindungen und molekulare Germanate zu erweitern und somit organisch-anorganische Komposite beziehungsweise Hybridmaterialien darzustellen. Dazu wurden neuartige Germaniumalkoxide auf der Basis von Benzylalkoholaten, Salicylalkoholaten sowie Benzylthiolaten synthetisiert, charakterisiert und auf ihre Fähigkeit Komposite beziehungsweise Hybridmaterialien über den Prozess der Zwillingspolymerisation zu erhalten studiert. Ein zweites Ziel dieser Arbeit war es, Beziehungen zwischen der Struktur und der Reaktivität dieser molekularen Vorstufen sowie deren Einfluss auf die Eigenschaften der erhaltenen Polymerisationsprodukte zu identifizieren und systematisch zu untersuchen. Hierfür wurden zum einen verschiedene Substituenten, welche unterschiedliche elektronische sowie sterische Eigenschaften aufweisen, an den aromatischen Einheiten der molekularen Vorstufen eingeführt. Die Effekte der Substituenten auf den Prozess der Zwillingspolymerisation und auf die Eigenschaften der Komposite beziehungsweise Hybridmaterialien wurden für die Verbindungsklasse der Germanium(II)salicylalkoholate, der molekularen Germanate sowie der spiro-zyklischen Siliziumsalicylalkoholate untersucht. Spirozyklische Siliziumsalicylalkoholate, wie zum Beispiel 4H,4’H-2,2‘-Spirobi[benzo[d][1,3,2]dioxasilin], wurden im Rahmen dieser Arbeit mit einbezogen, da sie aufgrund ihres nahezu idealen Zwillingspolymerisationsprozesses geeignete Modelverbindungen für Reaktivitätsstudien darstellen. Zudem wurde der Einfluss der Substituenten auf die Charakteristika der aus den Kompositen beziehungsweise Hybridmaterialien erhaltenen Folgeprodukte (poröse Kohlenstoffmaterialien und oxydische Materialien) studiert. Des Weiteren wurde eine Serie von spirozyklischen Germaniumthiolaten, welche isostrukturell zu 4H,4’H-2,2‘-Spirobi[benzo[d][1,3,2]dioxasilin] sind, synthetisiert, um systematisch den Einfluss der Chalkogenide, Sauerstoff und Schwefel, in benzylständiger sowie phenylständiger Position auf deren Reaktionsvermögen im Polymerisationsprozess zu untersuchen. Die experimentellen Ergebnisse zu den Struktur-Reaktivitätsbeziehungsstudien wurden, soweit es jeweils durchführbar war, mittels quantenchemische Rechnungen validiert und die daraus gezogenen Schlüsse in die Diskussion zur Interpretation der experimentellen Ergebnisse mit einbezogen.

Im Fokus dieser Arbeit standen zwei Ziele. Zum einem war es Forschungsgegenstand, dass Konzept der Zwillingspolymerisation auf germaniumhaltige, molekulare Vorstufen wie zum Beispiel Germylene, spirozyklische Germaniumverbindungen und molekulare Germanate zu erweitern und somit organisch-anorganische Komposite beziehungsweise Hybridmaterialien darzustellen. Dazu wurden neuartige Germaniumalkoxide auf der Basis von Benzylalkoholaten, Salicylalkoholaten sowie Benzylthiolaten synthetisiert, charakterisiert und auf ihre Fähigkeit Komposite beziehungsweise Hybridmaterialien über den Prozess der Zwillingspolymerisation zu erhalten studiert. Ein zweites Ziel dieser Arbeit war es, Beziehungen zwischen der Struktur und der Reaktivität dieser molekularen Vorstufen sowie deren Einfluss auf die Eigenschaften der erhaltenen Polymerisationsprodukte zu identifizieren und systematisch zu untersuchen. Hierfür wurden zum einen verschiedene Substituenten, welche unterschiedliche elektronische sowie sterische Eigenschaften aufweisen, an den aromatischen Einheiten der molekularen Vorstufen eingeführt. Die Effekte der Substituenten auf den Prozess der Zwillingspolymerisation und auf die Eigenschaften der Komposite beziehungsweise Hybridmaterialien wurden für die Verbindungsklasse der Germanium(II)salicylalkoholate, der molekularen Germanate sowie der spiro-zyklischen Siliziumsalicylalkoholate untersucht. Spirozyklische Siliziumsalicylalkoholate, wie zum Beispiel 4H,4’H-2,2‘-Spirobi[benzo[d][1,3,2]dioxasilin], wurden im Rahmen dieser Arbeit mit einbezogen, da sie aufgrund ihres nahezu idealen Zwillingspolymerisationsprozesses geeignete Modelverbindungen für Reaktivitätsstudien darstellen. Zudem wurde der Einfluss der Substituenten auf die Charakteristika der aus den Kompositen beziehungsweise Hybridmaterialien erhaltenen Folgeprodukte (poröse Kohlenstoffmaterialien und oxydische Materialien) studiert. Des Weiteren wurde eine Serie von spirozyklischen Germaniumthiolaten, welche isostrukturell zu 4H,4’H-2,2‘-Spirobi[benzo[d][1,3,2]dioxasilin] sind, synthetisiert, um systematisch den Einfluss der Chalkogenide, Sauerstoff und Schwefel, in benzylständiger sowie phenylständiger Position auf deren Reaktionsvermögen im Polymerisationsprozess zu untersuchen. Die experimentellen Ergebnisse zu den Struktur-Reaktivitätsbeziehungsstudien wurden, soweit es jeweils durchführbar war, mittels quantenchemische Rechnungen validiert und die daraus gezogenen Schlüsse in die Diskussion zur Interpretation der experimentellen Ergebnisse mit einbezogen.:Contents List of Abbreviations S. 11 1 Introduction S.14 2 Germanium alkoxides and germanium thiolates S. 18 2.1 Preamble S. 18 2.2 Germanium alkoxides S. 18 2.2.1 Germanium(II) alkoxides S. 20 2.2.2 Germanium(IV) alkoxides S. 23 2.2.3 Alkoxidogermanates S. 29 2.3 Germanium thiolates S. 31 2.3.1 Germanium(II) thiolates S. 33 2.3.2 Germanium(IV) thiolates S. 34 2.3.3 Thiolatogermanates and cationic germanium thiolato transition metal complexes S. 36 2.4 Germanium alkoxido thiolates S. 38 2.5 Concluding remarks S. 40 3 Individual Contributions S. 43 4 Microporous Carbon and Mesoporous Silica by Use of Twin Polymerization: An integrated Experimental and Theoretical Approach on Precursor Reactivity S. 46 4.1 Abstract S. 46 4.2 Introduction S.46 4.3 Results and Discussion S. 48 4.3.1 Synthesis and Characterization S. 48 4.3.2 Thermally induced twin polymerization of monosubstituted Precursors (para position) S.49 4.3.2.1 Studies on reactivity according to thermally induced twin polymerization S. 50 4.3.2.2 Characterization of the hybrid materials as obtained by thermally induced twin polymerization S. 51 4.3.2.3 Thermally induced twin polymerization of di-substituted precursors (ortho and para position) S. 52 4.3.2.4 Conclusions drawn for the thermally induced twin polymerization S. 54 4.3.3 Proton-assisted twin polymerization S. 54 4.3.3.1 Studies on the reactivity according to proton-assisted twin polymerization S.55 4.3.3.2 Characterization of the hybrid materials as obtained by proton-assisted twin polymerization S.56 4.3.3.3 Computational studies on proton-assisted twin polymerization S. 58 4.3.3.4 Conclusions drawn for the process of proton-assisted twin polymerization S. 60 4.3.4 Characterization of the porous materials S.61 4.4 Conclusions S.64 4.5 Experimental Section S. 65 4.5.1 General S.65 4.5.2 General procedure for the synthesis of phenolic resin-silica hybrid materials by thermally induced twin polymerization in melt - exemplified for compound 1 S. 66 4.5.3 General procedure for the synthesis of phenolic resin-silica hybrid materials by proton-assisted twin polymerization in solution - exemplified for compound 1 S. 66 4.5.4 General procedure for the synthesis of microporous carbon - exemplified for hybrid material HM-1T S. 66 4.5.5 General procedure for the synthesis of mesoporous silica - exemplified for hybrid material HM-1T S. 67 4.5.6 Single-Crystal X-ray Diffraction Analyses S. 67 4.5.7 Computational Details S. 67 4.6 Acknowledgments S. 68 4.7 Keywords S.68 4.8 Supporting Information Chapter 4 S. 69 5 Synthesis of germanium dioxide nanoparticles in benzyl alcohols – a comparison S. 82 5.1 Abstract S. 82 5.2 Introduction S. 82 5.3 Results and Discussion S.83 5.4 Conclusions S. 87 5.5 Experimental Section S. 87 5.5.1 General S. 87 5.5.2 Syntheses S. 88 5.5.3 Synthesis of GeO2 in ortho-methoxy benzyl alcohol – sample A S. 88 5.5.4 Synthesis of GeO2 in benzyl alcohol under inert conditions – sample B S. 89 5.5.5 Synthesis of GeO2 in benzyl alcohol under ambient conditions – sample C S. 89 5.6 Acknowledgments S. 89 5.7 Keywords S.89 5.8 Supporting Information Chapter 5 S. 90 6 From a Germylene to an “Inorganic Adamantane”: [{Ge₄(μ-O)₂(μ-OH)₄}{W(CO)₅}₄]∙4THF S. 93 6.1 Abstract S.93 6.2 Introduction S. 93 6.3 Results and Discussion S. 94 6.4 Conclusions S. 98 6.5 Experimental Section S. 99 6.5.1 General S.99 6.5.2 Synthesis of germanium(II) (2-methoxyphenyl)methoxide (9) S. 99 6.5.3 Synthesis of [{Ge4(μ-O)2(μ-OH)4}{W(CO)5}4]·4THF (10·4THF) S. 100 6.5.4 Single-Crystal X-ray Diffraction Analyses S. 100 6.5.4.1 Crystal Data for (9)2 S. 101 6.5.4.2 Crystal Data for 10·4THF S. 101 6.5.5 Computational Details S. 101 6.6 Acknowledgments S. 101 6.7 Keywords S.101 6.8 Supporting Information Chapter 6 S. 102 7 Synthesis, characterization and Twin Polymerization of a novel dioxagermine S. 110 7.1 Abstract S. 110 7.2 Introduction S.110 7.3 Results and Discussion S. 111 7.3.1 Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis S. 111 7.3.2 IR spectroscopy S. 112 7.3.3 Mass spectrum S. 114 7.3.4 DSC/TGA analysis S. 116 7.3.5 Polymerization S. 117 7.4 Conclusions S. 118 7.5 Materials and Methods S.118 7.5.1 General S. 118 7.5.2 Synthesis of 5-bromo-2-hydroxybenzyl alcohol S. 119 7.5.3 Synthesis of di-tert-butyl-di-ethoxy germane S.119 7.5.4 Synthesis of 6-bromo-2,2-di-tert-butyl-4H-1,3,2-benzo[d]dioxagermine (11) S. 120 7.5.5 Polymerization of compound 11 S. 120 7.5.6 X-ray diffraction analysis of compound 11 S.120 7.5.6.1 Crystal data for compound 11 S.120 7.5.7 Computational Details S.121 7.6 Acknowledgments S.121 7.7 Keywords S. 121 7.8 Supporting Information Chapter 7 S. 122 8 Intramolecular C-O Insertion of a Germanium(II) Salicyl Alcoholate: A Combined Experimental and Theoretical Study S. 125 8.1 Abstract S.125 8.2 Introduction S. 125 8.3 Results and Discussion S.126 8.3.1 Syntheses and Characterization S. 126 8.3.2 1H NMR Spectroscopic Studies S.132 8.3.3 DFT-D Calculations S.134 8.4 Conclusions S. 137 8.5 Experimental Section S. 138 8.5.1 General S. 138 8.5.2 Synthesis of germanium(II) 2-tert-butyl-4-methyl-6-(oxidomethyl)phenolate (12) S. 139 8.5.3 Synthesis of 2,4,6,8-tetrakis(3-tert-butyl-5-methyl-2-oxidophenyl)methanide-1,3,5,7,2,4,6,8-tetraoxidogermocane (13) S. 139 8.5.3.1 Method a) S.139 8.5.3.2 Method b) S. 140 8.5.4 Synthesis of 7,8'-di-tert-butyl-5,6'-dimethyl-3H,4'H-spiro[benzo[d][1,2]oxager-mole-2,2'-benzo[d][1,3,2]dioxagermine] (14) S. 140 8.5.4.1 Method a) S. 140 8.5.4.2 Method b) S. 141 8.5.4.3 Method c) S. 141 8.5.5 Synthesis of the [4-(dimethylamino)pyridine][germanium(II)-2-tert-butyl-4-meth-yl-6-(oxidomethyl)phenolate] (15) S. 141 8.5.6 1H NMR spectroscopic study i) S. 142 8.5.7 1H NMR spectroscopic study ii) S. 142 8.5.7.1 Method a) S. 142 8.5.7.2 Method b) S. 142 8.5.8 1H NMR spectroscopic study iii) S. 142 8.5.8.1 Method a) S. 142 8.5.8.2 Method b) S. 142 8.5.9 1H NMR spectroscopic study iv) S. 143 8.5.10 1H NMR spectroscopic study of the mixture of complex 15 and 3-tert-butyl-2-hydroxy-5-methylbenzyl alcohol in CDCl3 S. 143 8.5.11 1H NMR spectroscopic study of complex 15 in CDCl3 at elevated temperature S. 143 8.5.12 Reaction of complex 15 at elevated temperature S. 143 8.5.13 Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses S. 143 8.5.14 Computational Details S.144 8.6 Acknowledgments S. 145 8.7 Keywords S.145 8.8 Supporting Information Chapter 8 S. 146 9 Porous Ge@C materials via twin polymerization of germanium(II) salicyl alcoholates for Li-ion batteries S. 159 9.1 Abstract S. 159 9.2 Introduction S. 159 9.3 Results and Discussion S. 160 9.3.1 Synthesis and Characterization of germylenes S. 160 9.3.2 Twin polymerization S. 164 9.3.2.1 Studies on the reactivity S. 164 9.3.2.2 Characterization of the hybrid materials obtained by thermally induced twin polymerization S. 166 9.3.3 Synthesis and characterization of porous materials S. 168 9.3.4 Electrochemical measurements S. 170 9.4 Conclusions S. 172 9.5 Experimental Section S.172 9.5.1 General S.172 9.5.2 Synthesis of germanium(II) 2-(oxidomethyl)phenolate (16) S. 174 9.5.3 Synthesis of germanium(II) 4-methyl-2-(oxidomethyl)phenolate (17) S. 174 9.5.4 Synthesis of germanium(II) 4-bromo-2-(oxidomethyl)phenolate (18) S. 175 9.5.5 General procedure for the synthesis of phenolic resin-germanium oxide hybrid materials by thermally induced twin polymerization in melt - exemplified for compound 16 S. 175 9.5.6 General procedure for the synthesis of porous Ge@C materials - exemplified for hybrid material HM-16 S.175 9.5.7 General procedure for the synthesis of germanium oxide - exemplified for hybrid material HM-16 S.176 9.5.8 Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses S. 176 9.5.9 Computational Details S. 177 9.5.10 Electrode fabrication, cell assembly and electrochemical measurements S. 178 9.6 Acknowledgments S.178 9.7 Keywords S. 178 9.8 Supporting Information Chapter 9 S.179 10 From molecular germanates to microporous Ge@C via twin polymerization S.199 10.1 Abstract S.199 10.2 Introduction 199 10.3 Results and Discussion S. 201 10.3.1 Syntheses and Characterization S. 201 10.3.2 Twin polymerization of germanate 19 S. 204 10.3.3 Synthesis and characterization of the porous materials S. 205 10.3.4 Electrochemical measurements S.206 10.4 Conclusions S. 207 10.5 Experimental Section S. 208 10.5.1 General S. 208 10.5.2 Synthesis of bis(dimethylammonium) tris[2-(oxidomethyl)phenolate(2-)]germa-nate (19) S. 209 10.5.3 Synthesis of bis(dimethylammonium) tris[4-methyl-2-(oxidomethyl)pheno-late(2-)]germanate (20) S. 210 10.5.4 Synthesis of bis(dimethylammonium) tris[4-bromo-2-(oxidomethyl)pheno-late(2-)]germanate (21) S.210 10.5.5 Synthesis of dimethylammonium bis[2-tert-butyl-4-methyl-6-(oxidomethyl)phe-nolate(2-)][2-tert-butyl-4-methyl-6-(hydroxymethyl)phenolate(1-)]germanate (22) S. 211 10.5.6 Synthesis of phenolic resin-germanium dioxide hybrid materials by thermally induced twin polymerization in melt - HM-19 S. 211 10.5.7 Synthesis of porous Ge@C material C-19 starting from HM-19 S. 212 10.5.8 Synthesis of germanium dioxide material Ox-19 - starting from HM-19 S.212 10.5.9 Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses S. 212 10.5.10 Electrode fabrication, cell assembly and electrochemical measurements S.213 10.6 Acknowledgments S. 214 10.7 Keywords S. 214 10.8 Supporting Information Chapter 10 S.215 11 Chiral Spirocyclic Germanium Thiolates – An Evaluation of Their Suitability for Twin Polymerization based on A Combined Experimental and Theoretical Study S.226 11.1 Abstract S.226 11.2 Introduction S. 226 11.3 Results and Discussion S.227 11.3.1 Syntheses and Characterization S. 227 11.3.2 Studies on twin polymerization S.229 11.3.3 Computational studies on proton-assisted twin polymerization S. 232 11.4 Conclusions S. 235 11.5 Acknowledgments S. 236 11.6 Keywords S.236 11.7 Supporting Information Chapter 11 S.237 12 Concluding remarks S. 257 12.1 Discussion S.257 12.1.1 Twin polymerization of germanium-containing precursors S. 257 12.1.2 Reactivity studies of precursors towards their twin polymerization S.260 12.2 Summary and Outlook S. 264 Selbständigkeitserklärung S.266 Curriculum Vitae S.267 Publications S. 268 List of Publications in Peer-Reviewed Journals S. 268 List of Conference Contributions S.269 Research proposals, additional conference and summer school participations S. 270 Acknowledgments S. 271 References S. 272