Assembly and Manipulation of Functional Supramolecular Nano-Architectures at surfaces (FUNSMARTs)

Assembly and Manipulation of Functional Supramolecular Nano-Architectures at surfaces (FUNSMARTS)

Abstract

The objective of the proposed studies is the investigation and deliberate steering of supramolecular self-organization using complex molecules at well-defined substrates for the fabrication of functional nanostructures. The underlying molecular self-assembly will exploit different non-covalent interactions (metal coordination, hydrogen bonding, donor–acceptor interactions) which are directly characterized at the single-molecule level by means of scanning tunneling microscopy techniques. In particular, we shall employ appropriately designed molecular building blocks for the modular construction of functional architectures and nanostructures from organic species and metal atoms at surfaces. Alternatively, the fabrication of nanostructures across multiple length scales will be pursued by directing the self-assembly by pre-patterned motifs. The envisaged functionalities comprise molecular magnetism, selective host-guest interactions and new concepts of molecular motion and conformational changes. In addition, the self-assembly of biomolecules will be investigated. Theoretical model calculations will be performed in order to obtain a comprehensive understanding of molecular recognition and self-assembly at surfaces and to guide the development of suitable design strategies towards novel supramolecular nanosystems. The synergetic combination of expertise in supramolecular chemistry, nanoscale physical science and computational modeling will open new pathways for the fabrication of functional molecular nanosystems.

  • (Project Leader)
    Dr. Mario Ruben     Institut für Nanotechnologie, Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe, Germany

  • (Principal Investigator)
    Dr. Johannes Barth
    Institut de Physique des Nanostructures (IPN), Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne, Switzerland

  • Dr. Fabio Biscarini
    Istituto per lo Studio dei Materiali Nanostrutturati (ISMN), CNR, Bologna, Italy

  • Professor Harald Brune
    Faculty for Basic Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne, Switzerland

  • Professor Flemming Besenbacher 
    Institute of Physics & Astronomy, University of Aarhus, Denmark

  • Dr. Maria Mercedes Crego-Calama 
    MESA- Research Institute, Universiteit Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands

  • Dr. Alessandro De Vita  
    Università di Trieste, Italy

  • Professor Bjørk Hammer 
    Institute of Physics and Astronomy, Aarhus University, Denmark

  • Professor Klaus Kern 
    Max-Planck-Institut für Festkörperforschung, Stuttgart, Germany

  • Professor David Nicolaas Reinhoudt 
    Universiteit Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands

  • Dr. Menko Alexander Schneider 
    Max-Planck-Institut für Festkörperforschung, Stuttgart, Germany

  • Professor Jaume Veciana Miro 
    Institut de Ciencia de Materials de Barcelona (ICMAB), CSIC, Cerdanyola del Valles, Spain