"Exploring novel chemical and physical properties of atomic-scale structures on surfaces."

LATEST NEWS:

HIGHLIGHTS:

Imaging anisotropic atomic charges

We resolved anisotropic charge distribution on a single atom using Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy with a specific functionalized tip. Namely, we resolved the sigma hole on the halogen atom for the first time, a concept that plays an important role in halogen bonds.

Science 374 863 (2021)

Super radical odd-electron pi-macrocycle

We report on the on-surface synthesis of a novel radicaloid pi-macrocycle with an odd number of π-electrons. The macrocycle features an unusual delocalized electronic structure exhibiting two aromatic annulene-within-an-annulene (AWA) rings.

Chem (2024)

Quantum phase transition in polymers

We demonstrate atomic scale control over quantum phase transitions between two different topological quantum states of a π-conjugated polymer. The phase transition is driven by a pseudo Jahn–Teller effect that is activated above a certain polymer chain length.

Adv. Mater. 33 2104495 (2021)

On-surface synthesis of nonbenzenoid PAH

We report a novel way to synthetize so far unobserved polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. We employed on-surface strategy to synthetize non-alternant non-benzenoid PAH compounds consisting of 4 to 8-membered rings.

J. Am. Chem. Soc. 143 14694 (2021)

Concerted proton tunneling in hydrogen bonded chains

We show that quantum nuclear effects may strongly affect electronic and mechanical properties of hydrogen bonded molecular chains. Concerted proton tunneling strengths their mechanical stability and gives rise to new electronical states.

ACS Nano (2021)

Quasi metallic topological pi-conjugated polymers 

We found and synthesised of new class pi-conjugated polymers which features topological phase transition, which proximity closes the band gap without necessity to introduce heteroatomic dopants. We also demonstrated that the topological phase transition is directly related to variation of resonant pi-conjugation form.

Nature Nano 15, 437 (2020)
 

Quantum dissipation driven by controled electron transfer within a single molecule

We perform a controlled electron transfer within a single molecule by AFM probe. A coupled dynamics of the AFM probe and the transfered electron enables us to detect the quantum dissipation energy associated to this electron transfer.

Nature Comm. 11, 1337 (2020)

On-surface synthesis of acene polymers

We designed novel chemical protocol to design low band gap π‐conjugated polymers based on oligoacene precursors on gold surface. This paves new avenues for advancing the emerging field of on‐surface synthesis.

Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 131 6853 (2019).

Control of molecular spin states via non-covalent interaction

Here we demonstrate control over the spin state of a single iron(II) phthalocyanine molecule by via non-covalent interaction with substitutional nitrogen dopant in graphene. In addition we showed the unique capability of the high-resolution imaging technique to discriminate between different spin states of single molecules

Nat. Commun. 9   2831(1) - 2831(9)  (2018) .

On surface transformation of azides

We studied chemical transformation of 9‐azidophenanthrene on the Ag(111) surface in UHV conditions by nc‐AFM. High‐resolution imaging supported by first‐principle calculations revealed the structure of the final products that originated from a common and elusive 9‐phenanthryl nitrenoid intermediate chemisorbed on the Ag(111) surface.

Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 58  1 - 7 (2019).

Sub-molecular AFM imaging of weakly coupled water clusters

We presented a new method to achieve submolecular resolution of weakly bound water clusters on solid surfaces, including their chiral orientation or metastable configurations. This significantly advances the current possibilities of imaging weakly bound water nanostructures using Atomic Force Microscopy. For example it opens a new way to determine mobility of ionic sodium hydrates on surface.
Nature 557   701 - 705 (2018). 
Nat. Commun. 9   122(1) - 122(7) (2018).

Piezoelectric effect on a single molecule

For the first time, we demonstrated a strong piezoelectric response of a single helicene-based molecule deposited on a metallic surface. This represents a breakthrough in understanding the electromechanical behavior of individual molecules and provides a new concept for the design of molecular motors, sensors, and electricity generators at the nanoscale.

J. Am. Chem. Soc. 140   940 - 946 (2018).

Conservation of chirality during on-surface reactions

We show for the first time the possibility of indirectly reaching the enantiofacial adsorption of flat prochiral molecules on an achiral metal surface through a chemical on-surface reaction, affording highly enantioenriched adsorbates. Naturally, such a spontaneous global mirror-symmetry breaking upon direct adsorption of prochiral molecules on surfaces has not been possible so far.

Nat. Chem. 9   213 - 218 (2017).


RESEARCH LINES:

Our main goal is the design, synthesis, and characterization of low-dimensional molecular nanostructures, searching for new physical and chemical phenomena at the atomic scale. We use mainly ultra-high vacuum low-temperature scanning probe microscopy to investigate their physical and chemical properties at the atomic scale. The experimental activities are supported by theoretical analysis, including developing homebuilt tools (SPM probe particle code, local orbital DFT Fireball code).

 
  • 1D and 2D molecular systems and their physical and chemical properties
  • UHV On-surface chemistry
  • Strongly correlated molecular magnets
  • High-resolution SPM imaging with functionalized probes
  • Mechanical and transport properties of molecules on surfaces
  • Nuclear quantum effects in molecular structures