Molecular dynamics of chemical processes at surfaces

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This research seeks to exploit a new opportunity to obtain detailed understanding of the way in which simple chemical processes take place at surfaces. The opportunity stems from the confluence of two fields of contemporary research: Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM) and Reaction Dynamics. STM allows the experimenter to obtain images of single molecules at surfaces. Reaction Dynamics (a field pioneered by the applicant with others) is the study of the molecular motions that give rise to chemical reaction. A combination of these two fields offers a unique opportunity to see individual reagent molecules at surfaces and, following activation by heat, light or electrons, to correlate their geometries with subsequent product geometries. Stated briefly, the opportunity exists to map the molecular motions in the course of surface reactions, a-molecule-at-a-time.