Understanding N-Heterocyclic Carbenes on Metal Surfaces – Properties & Applications (B03)

• Subject Area: Physical Chemistry of Molecules, Liquids and Interfaces, Biophysical Chemistry
• Term: from 2010 to 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 104405829

In recent years, N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) became a prominent class of molecules for metal surface modification. However, the knowledge about the behavior on the surface is still limited. The aim of project B03 is to gain a better and more detailed understanding about NHCs on different metal surfaces. Detailed scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) experiments in combination with computational studies will be applied, addressing both the influence of the NHC and the metal surface on surface reconstructions and the behavior of NHCs to act as controlled molecular rotors. Moreover, the influence of NHCs on electrode properties and on-surface reactions of NHCs will be studied in detail.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 858: Synergetic Effects in Chemistry - From Additivity towards Cooperativity
• Applicant Institution: Universität Münster
• Project Heads: Professorin Dr. Lifeng Chi; Professor Dr. Gerhard Erker, until 12/2017; Professor Dr. Harald Fuchs; Professor Dr. Frank Glorius