The research activities of the institute are focused on the chemistry of molecules containing group 14 and 15 elements mainly and comprise synthetic as well as physicochemical and theoretical topics. Besides investigations about oligo- and polysilanes with Si-Si bonds, organo elemental compounds of germanium, tin or phosphorus and his homologues are in the centre of attraction. The following areas receive special attention: anions of silicon, especially polysilylanions, tin and phosphorus; transition metal-element compounds; polysilanes; higher derivatives of hydrosilanes; heteroatom substituted silanes; reactions of Zintl anions with polysilanes; the electrochemical formation of Si-Si bonds; and spectroscopical aspects of the group 14 and 15 elements. With respect to application the properties (optical nonlinearity, conductivity, a. o.) and use of polysilanes as well as of siloxanes are investigated.