US-Germany Cooperative Research: Understanding Molecular Electronics from Spectroscopy - A Step Towards Rational Design

该奖项支持朱晓阳和明尼苏达双城大学的学生与德国柏林自由大学实验物理系的马丁·沃尔夫合作。这项合作的主要目标是开发分子-硅界面模型，并使用飞秒双光子光电发射和和频产生光谱对界面电子传输进行动态测量。用单个或一小群分子制造电子器件已经成为包括化学、物理和工程在内的各种研究领域的中心舞台。虽然注意到越来越多的分子电子器件演示是令人兴奋的，但我们目前对分子电子学的理解仍然停留在现象学和定性的水平上。该奖项支持使用模型系统探索分子电子学基本机制的光谱方法。虽然这家德国集团是分子-固体界面超快动力学(尤其是电子动力学)方面的专家，但美国集团在表征金属-分子结的电子结构以及开发合成分子-硅界面的化学工艺方面拥有专长。这两个小组将结合他们的专业知识，解决与使用分子-硅界面模型的分子电子学相关的基本问题。目前，朱是由美国国家科学基金会拨款(dmr-0238307)资助的，研究有机半导体和有机-金属界面的电子结构和动力学。这个项目增加了国际维度，将显著增强朱的团队的研究能力，并将探索扩展到包括有机硅界面。将分子电子元件集成到硅表面的吸引力可以从硅在电子技术中的突出地位和硅表面物理和化学的丰富知识中实现。与现代科学/技术的许多领域一样，分子电子学本质上是多学科的。这个合作项目将允许朱教授团队中的化学研究生在沃尔夫教授的物理实验室接受尖端实验方法和技术方面的培训。同样，来自沃尔夫小组的物理系学生/博士生将获得设计和合成模型化学系统的经验。此外，这些学生还将在科学研究的文化方面获得宝贵的经验。因此，这种合作努力的协同作用远远超出了科学产出的范畴。

0340669ZhuThis award supports Xiaoyang Zhu and students from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities in a collaboration with Martin Wolf of the Department of Experimental Physics at the Free University of Berlin, Germany. The overarching goal of this collaboration is to develop model molecule-silicon interfaces and to carry out dynamic measurements on interfacial electron transport using femtosecond two-photon photoemission and sum-frequency generation spectroscopies. Building electronic devices from single or a small group of molecules has taken the center stage in diverse research fields, including chemistry, physics, and engineering. While it is exciting to note the increasing number of demonstrations of molecular electronic devices, our present understanding of molecular electronics remains at a phenomenological and qualitative level. This award supports a spectroscopic approach to probe the fundamental mechanisms underlying molecular electronics using model system. While the German group is expert on ultrafast dynamics, particularly electron dynamics, at molecule-solid interfaces, the US group has expertise in characterizing electronic structure at metal-molecular junctions and in developing chemical processes for the synthesis of molecule-silicon interfaces. The two groups will combine their expertise and address fundamental questions relevant to molecular electronics using model molecule-silicon interfaces. Currently, Zhu is funded by an NSF grant (DMR-0238307) to address electronic structure and dynamics in organic semiconductors and at organic-metal interfaces. Adding an international dimension to this project will significantly enhance the research capabilities of Zhu's group and extend the exploration to include organic silicon interfaces. The attractiveness of integrating molecular electronic components to silicon surfaces can be realized from the prominent status of silicon in electronics technology and the availability of vast knowledge on the physics and chemistry of silicon surfaces.As in many fields of modern science/technology, molecular electronics is inherently multidisciplinary. This collaborative project will allow Chemistry graduate students in Zhu's group to obtain training in cutting edge experimental methodology and techniques in the Physics laboratory of Prof. Wolf. Similarly, Physics students/posdocs from the Wolf group will gain experience in designing and synthesizing model chemical systems. In addition, these students will also gain valuable experience in cultural aspects of scientific research. Thus, the synergy from such collaborative effort goes well beyond scientific output.