Berlin 2012 – scientific programme
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O: Fachverband Oberflächenphysik
O 13: Polymeric biomolecular films
O 13.11: Talk
Monday, March 26, 2012, 18:30–18:45, MA 005
Molecular polymerisation on a stepped surface — •Alex Saywell1, Jutta Schwarz2, Stefan Hecht2, and Leonhard Grill1 — 1Department of Physical Chemistry, Fritz-Haber-Institute of the Max-Planck Society, Berlin, Germany — 2Department of Chemistry, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
On-surface reactions have the potential to provide new synthetic routes for the production of novel molecular species. In such reactions the surface is likely to play a more complex role than simply functioning as a flat, inert support. Step edges and defect sites of catalytic surfaces are considered as ‘active sites’ for chemical reactions.[1] Probing a surface with atomic resolution allows site specific information to be obtained about the structure and location of these active sites.[2]
Here we investigate the influence of the step edges of the Au(10,7,7) surface on a model chemical system, with respect to the catalytic activity of the step edges and the adsorption geometry of monomer units and polymer chains. Low temperature UHV-STM provides the spatial resolution to identify catalytic sites and facilitates the characterisation of molecular structures. Our results demonstrate that the Au(10,7,7) surface possesses catalytically active sites, and that the local geometrical structure of these sites plays an important role in the on-surface chemistry. The step edges also provide a template for highly orientated polymers formed via the on-surface reaction.
[1] Taylor, H.S. Proc. R. Soc. London Ser. A 108, 105-111 (1925).
[2] Vang, R.T. et al. Chem. Soc. Rev. 37, 2191 (2008).