Chemical Imaging of Elementary Steps in Hydrogenation Reactions of Surfaces

在化学系化学测量和成像计划的支持下，耶鲁大学的Schwarz和Altman教授正在开发一种新的方法来可视化和表征单分子表面化学。这一新方法允许小组使用扫描探针显微镜的尖端控制反应的每一步，其中特定和独特的反应路径是随意选择的。施瓦茨教授和阿尔特曼教授正在使用这项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。研究成果为研究表面化学和催化开辟了新的场所。施瓦茨教授和奥特曼教授正在使用碳-氢和碳-碳键的形成来说明这项技术的威力。这些成键反应从根本上说是重要的，可能会对化工和石化行业产生重大影响。Schwarz教授和Altman教授正在利用他们的研究成果向公众开放。Schwarz教授和Altman教授正在开发一种高分辨率工具，以局部绘制吸附分子和表面之间的能量图谱，目的是量化特定化学键形成或解离的能量最小值，并随后随意操纵单分子表面化学。具体地说，他们正在(1)进一步发展他们的原子力显微镜技术，以量化针尖和样品之间的相互作用，并绘制三维的势、力和电流图；(2)使用开发的技术来研究芳香分子和氢的吸附，并操纵它们的化学行为；以及(3)通过在本地创建苄基自由基和形成相关产品来测试该技术。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势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.