Molecular reaction and sensors

Molecular reactions and sensors

Metal phthalocynanine and porphyrin show promising properties for solar cells, organic electronics, spintronics, and biomimetic catalysis. We have studied iron phthalocynanine (FePc) adsorption on graphite and a Au(111) surface and proposed a strategy to tune the magnetic moment of the molecule using small molecules such as CO, NO, NH3 and pyridine (the right figure).

At present, we are carrying out research of iron porphyrin-based chemical reactions, in which the Fe center is the reactive site. These reactions can, in principle, be used to detect molecules by coupling to nanosensors, as we have recently demonstrated. Most of the work was done in close collaboration with Dr. Marie-Laure Bocquet (ENS) and Prof. Joachim Schnadt (Lund University). The sensor project is undergoing in close collaboration with Prof. Richard F. Haglund (Physics, Vanderbilt), Prof. David E. Cliffel (Chemistry, Vanderbilt), and Prof. David W. Wright (Chemistry, Vanderbilt).

See J. Phys.: Cond. Mat. 22, 472002 (2010); Nano Lett. 13, 798 (2013); JCP 134, 114710 (2011); JCP 134, 114711 (2011); JPCC 115, 20201 (2011); JPCC 115, 24718 (2011); JCP 131, 214709 (2009); etc.

Moreover, we are also working on chemical reactions of small molecules, energy conversion in solar cells and fuel cells, surface chemistry, simulation of STM images (left figure), and molecular sensing. Most of the work are carried out in close collaboration with colleagues at ENS de Lyon, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU), Brookhaven National Lab (BNL), Lund University, University of Zurich, CIN2 Barcelona, University of Kiel, and Vanderbilt University etc.