15:2008 2008 OF INORGANIC CHEMISTRY, EVALUATION INTERNATIONAL Twenty-nine scientists and their research supported by the Swedish Research Council (at eight universities) in the field of Inorganic Chemistry are reviewed by an international expert panel. Each review in this report includes an evaluation of the research and recommendations based on the work accomplished over the past five years (2003–07) and the proposed future research. The expert panel also expresses its international viewpoints on the status of Inorganic Chemistry research in Sweden, the strengths of the research topic and how to enhance its level and internal coherence. In addition, the panel advises on the balance of research supported by the Swedish Research Council within the various subdisciplines of Inorganic Chemistry. Finally, the panel makes some additional recommendations on research funding to scientists in Sweden, and gives advice on the balance among the various fields of Chemistry. INTERNATIONAL EVALUATION OF INORGANIC CHEMISTRY, 2008 Klarabergsviadukten 82 | SE-103 78 Stockholm | Tel +46-8-546 44 000 | Fax +46-8-546 44 180 | [email protected] | www.vr.se VETENSKAPSRÅDETS RAPPORTSERIE The Swedish Research Council is a government agency that provides funding for basic research of the highest scientific quality in all disciplinary domains. Besides research ISSN 1651-7350 funding, the agency works with strategy, analysis, and research communication. ISBN 978-91-7307-150-5 The objective is for Sweden to be a leading research nation. VETENSKAPSRÅDETS RAPPORTSERIE 15:2008 INTERNATIONAL EVALUATION OF INORGANIC CHEMISTRY, 2008 International Evaluation of Inorganic Chemistry, 2008 This report can be ordered at www.vr.se VETENSKAPSRÅDET (Swedish Research Council) SE-103 78 Stockholm © Swedish Research Council ISSN 1651-7350 ISBN 91-7307-150-5 Cover Photo: The picture is from Kristina Edström, Uppsala University, and her research. It shows antimony nano-particles electrodeposited on to copper nano-rods to be used as an anode for a 3D Li-ion micro-battery. Graphic Design: Erik Hagbard Couchér, Swedish Research Council Printed by CM Gruppen, Bromma, Sweden, 2008 PREFACE The Scientific Council for Natural and Engineering Sciences supports after national priority the qualitatively best research and the best researchers in Sweden. The Scientific Council awards grants for research projects totalling approximately SEK 970 million annually for Swedish basic research within natural and engineering sciences and mathematics. The essence of the task is to support basic research projects which can maintain Sweden’s position at the forefront of research. Funding is given to the best researchers and their research projects, irrespective of their location in the country. A great responsibility for the Scientific Council is to provide for the breadth of the Swedish basic research and the Scientific Council is working continuously with the renewal of the research, international co-operation and equality. Another responsibility for the Scientific Council is to evaluate the research and the researchers funded by the Scientific Council. These evaluations serve as an independent verification on how the Scientific Council has succeeded in funding of the evaluated research area. The evaluations constitute an important instrument for strategic priorities. The Scientific Council regu- larly engages experts, national and international, for different assignments e.g. for evaluations of the research funded by the Scientific Council. This evaluation report is an international evaluation of Inorganic Chemistry in Sweden. December 2008 Arne Johansson Secretary General Natural and Engineering Sciences To the Swedish Research Council A panel of international experts was appointed in February, 2008 by the Scientific Council for Natural and Engineering Sciences, given the task of carrying out the evaluation of Inorganic Chemistry. The evaluation took place during 30 March – 5 April, 2008. During these days the grant holders under review presented their research activities to the expert panel. The panel also interviewed the grant holders during that time. The present document reports the findings and recommendations of the expert panel, which considers its task fulfilled. According to the terms of reference of the expert panel, the international members take full responsi- bility for the report. 5 April 2008 Kim R Dunbar Helmer Fjellvåg Erik Larsen Daniel G Nocera Jan Reedijk CONTENTS EVALUATED SCIENTISTS LISTED BY UNIVERSITY ..................................................................................................................................................................................7 GENERAL PART OF PANEL REPORT ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 9 EVALUATIONS................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 19 Mats Boman, UU .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................19 Yvonne Brandt Andersson, UU ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................23 Jan-Otto Carlsson, UU ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................27 Kristina Edström, UU ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 31 Sten Eriksson, Chalmers ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................35 Saeid Esmaeilzadeh, SU ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................38 Andreas Fischer, KTH ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 41 Julius Glaser, KTH ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................43 Mikael Håkansson, GU .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 46 Ulf Jansson, UU ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 49 Lars-Gunnar Johansson, Chalmers ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................52 Mats Johnsson, SU .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................55 Vadim Kessler, SLU ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................58