Real-space imaging of metal-mediated nanostructures
(David Olivenza Leon)
Supramolecular, cyclic structures can be used as hosts to investigate the processes taking place inside confined regions at the nanoscale level. This project involves characterising and manipulating these structures on metallic surfaces under ultra-high vacuum conditions using a Scanning Tunnelling Microscope (STM). They can be planar (e.g. rings) or three-dimensional (e.g. cages) and, because they can be custom-designed to some extent, functional groups of interest can be placed inside them. This research is carried out in collaboration with Prof. Dr. Clever's lab (Technische Universitaet Dortmund), where the nanostructures are designed and built. The goal is to underpin the knowledge of confined reactions occurring within metal-mediated, self-assembled nanostructures.
