Molecular Nanoscience

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The group’s research activity combines different spectroscopies and microscopie to investigate surfaces and interfaces down to the atomic scale:

  1. Controlling electron and spin‐based quantum states in surface supported molecular and supramolecular architectures by chemical and/or physical switches. Specific, low-dimensional, atomic and supramolecular architectures at surfaces and interfaces are characterized in order to under‐ stand the mechanisms ruling their response and cooperative action in conjunction with topo‐ logical, surface and interface states. Density Functional Theory (DFT)+U calculations per‐ formed by our collaborators give a very important input to achieve this goal.
  2. Investigate fundamental processes in applied processes and devices down to the atomic scale. Atomic‐level structure, diffusion and processes decisively affect the performance of functional materials and devices. Examples have been provided by resist materials, high‐power semiconductor, organic electronic and medical devices. Spectro‐microscopy correlation here can provide new fundamental insight and contribute to novel and/or improved function or functionality.
  3. Supramolecular architecturing of novel materials and in particular quantum materials. In close collaboration with chemists, chemically programmed supramolecular assembly has al‐ lowed us to create unprecedented low dimensional materials with unique properties i.e. 2D spin array and ferrimagnets and free standing layers with programmable architecture and chemical functions, also for the inspection of single molecules and nanoparticles (so called sample delivery).

The group has built the competence and infrastructure to make and investigate materials architectured from a wide range of components i.e. elements, compounds and programmed organic molecules. The assembly and operation of nanomaterials and nanodevices is investigated by a broad range of mechani‐ cal, magnetic, and electronic properties are studied using surface sensitive techniques: X‐ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Scanning Probe Microscopy (SPM), X‐ray Magnetic Circular Dichroism (XMCD) spectroscopy, Angle Resolved Photoemission Spectroscopy (ARPES), Low‐Energy and others. As of 01.07.2017, the group operates the PEARL beamline of the Swiss Light Source.

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New class of substances for redox reactions

The step-wise oxidation of a new redox-active molecular semiconductor is recognized by changing shape, assembly behavior and other properties by spectro-microscopy correlation.  

Atomic structure of 2D materials

2D Materials

Hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) “nanomesh”, a two-dimensional insulating monolayer, grown on the (111) surface of rhodium exhibits an intriguing hexagonal corrugation pattern with a lattice constant of 3.2 nm.

Cryo-TEM investigation of a free-standing monolayer of a calixarene derivative. The TEM-Picture on the left shows the monolayer deposited on a lacey carbon support. The electron diffraction pattern on the left confirms the formation of a crystalline monolayer

Supramolecular architectures of molecularly thin yet robust free-standing layers

In a collaboration within the network of the Swiss Nanoscience Institute, the formation of free-standing molecular monolayers using self-assembly processes has been demonstrated. The results of the study have been published in the February 2019 issue of Science Advances.

Data storage using individual molecules

The research group of Prof. T.A. Jung at the University of Basel has reported on a new method that allows the physical state of just a few atoms or molecules within a network to be controlled.

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Imaging the inside of injection needles with neutrons

SINQ

Researchers from the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI, the University of Basel and Roche have used neutron imaging to investigate why cool storage is crucial for syringes pre-filled with a liquid medication.

Wafer-thin Magnetic Materials Developed for Future Quantum Technologies

For the first time, researchers have produced a wafer-thin ferrimagnet, in which molecules with different magnetic centers arrange themselves on a gold surface to form a checkerboard pattern. Scientists at the Paul Scherrer Institute, in collaboration with their research partners, published the findings in the journal Nature Communications.

Controlling Quantum States Atom by Atom

A method to precisely alter the quantum mechanical states of electrons within an array of quantum boxes has been developped by an international consortium also including PSI. The method can be used to investigate the interactions between various types of atoms and electrons, which is essential for future quantum technologies.

Video clips by the swiss nanoscience institute containing material from our group

Current research areas 

Earlier research topics 

  • Molecular Electronics 
  • Mechanics at Nanoscale 
  • Organic Monolayers on Ultrathin Insulators
  • Subphthalocyanine
  • Pentacene on Copper

Our Research Team

Evidence for carbon clusters present near thermal gate oxides affecting the electronic band structure in SiC-MOSFET
Dutta D, De D, Fan D, Roy S, et al.
Appl. Phys. Lett. 115, 101601 (2019)

Supramolecular architectures of molecularly thin yet robust free-standing layers
Moradi M, Opara N, Tulli L, Wäckerlin C, et al.
Sci. Adv. 5: eaav4489 (2019)

Adsorbate-Induced Modification of the Confining Barriers in a Quantum Box Array
Nowakowska S, Mazzola F, Alberti M, Song F, et al.
ACS Nano. 12 (1), 768 (2018)

On the needle clogging of staked-in-needle pre-filled syringes: Mechanism of liquid entering the needle and solidification process
Bardi M, Müllera R, Grünzweigc C, Mannesc D, et al
EUR J PHARM BIOPHARM. 128,272 (2018)

Long-range ferrimagnetic order in a two-dimensional supramolecular Kondo lattice
Girovsky J, Nowakowski J, Ali MdEhesan, Baljozovic M, et al.
Nat. Commun. 8, 15388 (2017)

Surface science at the PEARL beamline of the Swiss Light Source
Muntwiler M, Zhang J, Stania R, Matsui F, et al.
J. Synchrotron Rad. 24, 354 (2017)

Device Simulations on Novel High Channel Mobility 4H-SiC Trench MOSFETs and Their Fabrication Processes
H. R. Rossmann, A. Bubendorf, F. Zanella, N. Marjanović, et al.
Microelectron. Eng. 145, 166 (2015)

Interplay of weak interactions in the atom-by-atom condensation of xenon within quantum boxes
S. Nowakowska, A. Waeckerlin, S. Kawai, T. Ivas, J. Nowakowski, et al.
Nat. Commun. 6, 6071 (2015)

Antiferromagnetic coupling of Cr-porphyrin to a bare Co substrate
J. Girovsky, K. Tarafder, C. Waeckerlin, J. Nowakowski, D. Siewert et al.
Phys. Rev. B 90, 220404 (2014)

On-surface synthesis of a two-dimensional porous coordination network: Unraveling adsorbate interactions
M. Matena, J. Bjork, M. Wahl, T-L. Lee, J. Zegenhagen, L. H. Gade, et al.
Phys. Rev. B 90, 125408 (2014)

Exchange Interaction of Strongly Anisotropic Tripodal Erbium Single-Ion Magnets with Metallic Surfaces
J. Dreiser, C. Waeckerlin, Md. E. Ali, C. Piamonteze, F. Donati, et al.
ACS Nano 8, 4662 (2014)

Covalent assembly of a two-dimensional molecular "sponge" on a Cu(111) surface: confined electronic surface states in open and closed pores
A. Shchyrba, S. C. Martens, C. Waeckerlin, M. Matena, T. Ivas, et al.
Chem. Commun. 50, 7628 (2014)

Controlling the Dimensionality of On-Surface Coordination Polymers via Endo- or Exoligation
A. Shchyrba, C. Waeckerlin, J. Nowakowski, S. Nowakowska, et al.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 136, 9355 (2014)

Investigating magneto-chemical interactions at molecule-substrate interfaces by X-ray photo-emission electron microscopy
J. Girovsky, M. Buzzi, C. Waeckerlin, D. Siewert, J. Nowakowski, et al.
Chem. Commun. 50, 5190 (2014)

Two-Dimensional Supramolecular Electron Spin Arrays
C. Waeckerlin, J. Nowakowski, S-X. Liu, J. Michael, D. Siewert, et al.
Adv. Mater. 25, 2404(2013)

Porphyrin metalation providing an example of a redox reaction facilitated by a surface reconstruction
J. Nowakowski, C. Wäckerlin, J. Girovsky, D. Siewert, T. A. Jung, N. Ballav
Chem. Commun. 49, 2347 (2013)

Emergence of On-Surface Magnetochemistry
N. Ballav, C. Wäckerlin, D. Siewert, P. M. Oppeneer, T. A. Jung
J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 4, 2303 (2013)

PEARL Beamline at SLS