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

0340669朱晓阳该奖项支持朱晓阳和明尼苏达大学双城分校的学生与德国柏林自由大学实验物理系的Martin Wolf合作。 这项合作的首要目标是开发模型分子-硅界面，并使用飞秒双光子光电发射和和频产生光谱对界面电子输运进行动态测量。 从单个或一小群分子构建电子器件已经成为化学、物理和工程等不同研究领域的中心舞台。 虽然这是令人兴奋的注意到越来越多的演示分子电子器件，我们目前的分子电子学的理解仍然停留在现象和定性的水平。 该奖项支持使用模型系统探测分子电子学基础机制的光谱方法。 德国研究小组擅长于分子-固体界面的超快动力学，特别是电子动力学，而美国研究小组则擅长于表征金属-分子结的电子结构，以及开发合成分子-硅界面的化学工艺。 这两个小组将联合收割机结合他们的专业知识，并使用模型分子硅界面解决与分子电子学相关的基本问题。 目前，朱由NSF资助（DMR-0238307），以解决有机半导体和有机金属界面的电子结构和动力学。 为该项目增加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。 由于硅在电子技术中的重要地位以及硅表面物理和化学方面的丰富知识，将分子电子元件集成到硅表面的吸引力可以实现。 这个合作项目将允许朱的小组的化学研究生在沃尔夫教授的物理实验室获得尖端实验方法和技术的培训。 同样，沃尔夫小组的物理学学生/博士后将获得设计和合成模型化学系统的经验。 此外，这些学生还将获得文化方面的科学研究的宝贵经验。 因此，这种合作努力的协同作用远远超出了科学产出。

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.