Chemical Imaging of Elementary Steps in Hydrogenation Reactions of Surfaces

在化学系化学测量和成像项目的支持下，耶鲁大学的Schwarz和Altman教授正在开发一种新的方法，用于单分子表面化学的可视化和表征。这种新方法允许研究小组使用扫描探针显微镜的尖端来控制反应的每一步，其中可以随意选择特定和独特的反应途径。施瓦茨教授和奥特曼教授正在使用这种技术来研究驱动反应的相互作用，并最终揭示附近表面缺陷或其他分子的影响。这些研究成果为研究表面化学和催化开辟了新的领域。施瓦茨教授和奥特曼教授正在用碳氢键和碳碳键的形成来说明这项技术的力量。这些成键反应非常重要，可能对化学和石化工业产生重大影响。施瓦茨教授和奥特曼教授正在用他们的研究成果来接触普通大众。施瓦茨教授和奥特曼教授正在开发一种高分辨率的工具，用于绘制被吸附分子和下面表面之间的局部能量图，目的是量化特定化学键形成或解离的能量最小值，并随后随意操纵单个分子表面化学。具体来说，他们正在(1)进一步发展他们的原子力显微镜技术，以量化尖端与样品之间的相互作用，并在三维空间中绘制电位、力和电流；(2)利用所开发的技术研究芳香分子和氢的吸附，并操纵其化学行为；(3)用局部产生的苯自由基和相关产物的形成来测试该技术。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

With support from the Chemical Measurement and Imaging Program in the Division of Chemistry, Professors Schwarz and Altman at Yale University are developing a new approach for the visualization and characterization of single molecule surface chemistry. This new approach is allowing the groups to control each step of a reaction using the tip of a scanning probe microscope where the specific and unique reaction pathway is chosen at will. Professors Schwarz and Altman are using this technique to study the interactions responsible to drive the reaction and to ultimately reveal the influence of nearby surface defects or other molecules. The research outcomes are opening new venues to study surface chemistry and catalysis. Professors Schwarz and Altman are using carbon-hydrogen and carbon-carbon bond formation to illustrate the power of the technique. These bond formation reactions are fundamentally importantly and could have great impacts to the chemical and petrochemical industry. Professors Schwarz and Altman are using their research outcomes to reach out to the general public.Professors Schwarz and Altman are developing a high-resolution tool to locally map energy landscape between an adsorbed molecule and the surface underneath, with the aims of quantifying energy minima for specific chemical bond formation or dissociation and subsequently manipulating single molecule surface chemistry at will. Specifically, they are (1) further developing their atomic force microscopy technique to quantify the interaction between the tip and a sample, and map potential, forces, and currents in three dimensions; (2) using the developed technique to study adsorption of aromatic molecules and hydrogen, and manipulate their chemical behaviors; and (3) testing the technique with local creation of benzyl radicals and formation of associated products.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.