Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jing Chang, Bo Liu, James S. Grundy, Huaizhi Shao, Rogerio Manica, Zhen Li, Qingxia Liu, Zhenghe Xu
Summary: In this study, atomic force microscopy was used to image the surface lattice structure of kaolinite basal planes in liquids, revealing distinct ion adsorption characteristics in the presence and absence of monovalent and divalent cations through different mechanisms.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hui Zhang, Yue Yu, Xinyue Dai, Jinshan Yu, Hua Xu, Shanshan Wang, Feng Ding, Jin Zhang
Summary: By combining aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy and density functional theory calculations, this study investigated the fracture mechanics of 2D rhenium disulfide, revealing distinctive crack behaviors at different grain boundaries. The results show that grain boundaries aligned with Re chains are more prone to brittle intergranular fracture, while those not aligned with Re chains exhibit high resistance to fracture, impeding crack propagation. These findings provide new insights for material reinforcement and controllable cutting through grain boundary engineering.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ryan M. Khan, Martin Rejhon, Yanxiao Li, Nitika Parashar, Elisa Riedo, Ryan R. Wixom, Frank W. DelRio, Remi Dingreville
Summary: As the field of low-dimensional materials continues to grow, there is a need for techniques to characterize the mechanical properties of these materials at the nanoscale. This paper presents a modulated nanomechanical measurement technique based on atomic-force microscopy, which enables non-destructive measurements of the elasticity of ultra-thin materials with high resolution. The technique is used to study the stiffness dependence of graphene thin films and discover a peak transverse modulus in two-layer graphene.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Takahiko Ikarashi, Kyosuke Nakayama, Naoki Nakajima, Kazuki Miyata, Keisuke Miyazawa, Takeshi Fukuma
Summary: In this study, the three-dimensional adsorption structures of anti-freezing surfactants on sapphire surfaces were directly visualized using 3D scanning force microscopy. The observed adsorption configurations at different concentrations provide important insights into the anti-freezing mechanism.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Mark P. Oxley, Maxim Ziatdinov, Ondrej Dyck, Andrew R. Lupini, Rama Vasudevan, Sergei V. Kalinin
Summary: The 4D scanning transmission electron microscopy method maps the structure and functionality of solids at the atomic scale, providing data sets describing interatomic electric and magnetic fields, symmetry breaking distortions, etc. The use of rotationally invariant variational autoencoders helps to reduce complex 4D-STEM data to physically relevant descriptors and can be applied to probing symmetry-breaking phenomena in complex systems.
NPJ COMPUTATIONAL MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Irem Demir, Ines Luechtefeld, Claude Lemen, Etienne Dague, Pascal Guiraud, Tomaso Zambelli, Cecile Formosa-Dague
Summary: Studying the interactions between bubbles and bio-surfaces is a challenge, but a new method can be used to understand and engineer bubble-(bio)surfaces interactions.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Franz J. Giessibl
Summary: The nature of the chemical bond is crucial in various natural sciences, and the AFM technology allows for the study of individual chemical bonds. Experimental AFM data covers a range of chemical bonds, while density functional theory calculations are related to these studies. Frequency modulation AFM is a precise method that has enabled high precision measurements of bonding strengths.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Owoong Kwon, Seunghun Kang, Sanghyun Jo, Yun Do Kim, Hee Han, Yeehyun Park, Xiaoli Lu, Woo Lee, Jinseong Heo, Marin Alexe, Yunseok Kim
Summary: Ferroelectric materials have been widely used in various fields due to their switchable spontaneous polarization. With the decrease in characteristic sizes of devices and materials below the nanoscale, appropriate characterization tools have become essential. A novel method based on high-frequency AFM-PUND has been proposed for measuring polarization-voltage hysteresis loops, showing promising results in evaluating nanoscale polarization values of ferroelectrics.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Audrey Beaussart, Florent Canonico, Hortense Mazon, Jorge Hidalgo, Sarah Cianferani, Helene Le Cordier, Alexandre Kriznik, Sophie Rahuel-Clermont
Summary: This study investigates the non-covalent interaction mechanism and dynamics between Srx and Prx Tsa1 at the decamer level. The results show that ten Srx molecules can saturate the ten subunits of the decamer, and the complex does not dissociate in solution. Additionally, protein engineering and atomic force microscopy reveal that the flexibility of Tsa1 C-terminus controls the binding and dissociation process.
NANOSCALE HORIZONS
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Irek E. Roslon, Aleksandre Japaridze, Peter G. Steeneken, Cees Dekker, Farbod Alijani
Summary: Motion is a key characteristic of every form of life. Bacteria colonies at the microscale can generate nanomotion on mechanical cantilevers, but the origin of these nanoscale vibrations has remained unresolved. This study presents a new technique using drums made of ultrathin bilayer graphene to measure the nanomotion of single bacteria. The findings suggest that bacterial flagella is the main source of nanomotion and demonstrate the potential of graphene drums for single-cell antibiotic susceptibility testing.
NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Physics, Applied
Sergio Santos, Karim Gadelrab, Tuza Olukan, Josep Font, Victor Barcons, Matteo Chiesa
Summary: Quantifying conservative forces in multifrequency atomic force microscopy involves solving the general equations expressed in terms of interaction energies. Power law expressions are commonly used for electrostatic, ferroelectric, magnetic, or long range forces. This study discusses long range forces modeled using power laws with exponent values ranging from 2-5, and applies multifrequency theory to explore the relevant parameter space. Numerical integration of motion equations shows a narrow range of operational parameters for valid approximations during imaging, with errors as low as 10% for all explored exponents.
APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yuan Zhang, Daniel J. Trainer, Badri Narayanan, Yang Li, Anh T. Ngo, Sushila Khadka, Arnab Neogi, Brandon Fisher, Larry A. Curtiss, Subramanian K. R. S. Sankaranarayanan, Saw Wai Hla
Summary: By using a q+ atomic force microscopy at low temperature, researchers observed lateral force anisotropy of a sexiphenyl molecule moving on an atomically flat Ag(111) surface. The one-dimensional shape of the molecule was identified as the origin of this phenomenon, which was confirmed through molecular dynamics simulations. This finding may have significant implications for atomic scale frictional phenomena on materials surfaces.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ayhan Yurtsever, Pei-Xi Wang, Fabio Priante, Ygor Morais Jaques, Kazuki Miyata, Mark J. MacLachlan, Adam S. Foster, Takeshi Fukuma
Summary: This study reveals the molecular-scale structural details of chitin nanocrystals and their interaction with water molecules. The chitin nanocrystals exhibit highly ordered crystalline structures on their surfaces, and the stable hydration layers formed with water molecules provide important insights into developing chitin-based nanomaterials.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Muruga Lokesh, Rahul Vaippully, Gokul Nalupurackal, Srestha Roy, Vidya P. Bhallamudi, Anil Prabhakar, Basudev Roy
Summary: This study explores the adhesion work at the nanoscale using atomic force microscopes and optical tweezers techniques. By employing soft probing methods, the work of adhesion for different surface materials can be obtained, showing significantly lower values compared to hard probing methods.
Article
Materials Science, Composites
Raphael Coste, Mikhael Soliman, Nicolas B. Bercu, Sylvain Potiron, Karima Lasri, Veronique Aguie-Beghin, Laurene Tetard, Brigitte Chabbert, Michael Molinari
Summary: The study examines the impact of resin embedding on the mechanical properties of plant tissues at small scales through a comparison of prepared samples. Significant variations in stiffness are found between different layers of plant cell walls, with acrylic LR White identified as the least diffusive resin for exploring plant cell wall studies. The findings shed light on the importance of considering resin diffusion effects in molecular interaction studies in plants.
COMPOSITES SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Kalyan Biswas, Jose I. Urgel, M. R. Ajayakumar, Ji Ma, Ana Sanchez-Grande, Shayan Edalatmanesh, Koen Lauwaet, Pingo Mutombo, Jose M. Gallego, Rodolfo Miranda, Pavel Jelinek, Xinliang Feng, David Ecija
Summary: This study reports the successful on-surface synthesis of the largest pristine member of the n-PA family, peri-heptacene, on an Au(111) substrate under ultra-high vacuum conditions. High-resolution scanning tunneling microscopy and theoretical simulations provide insights into the chemical structure of this previously elusive compound. Scanning tunneling spectroscopy reveals that peri-heptacene exhibits an antiferromagnetic open-shell singlet ground state and a singlet-triplet spin-flip inelastic excitation with an effective exchange coupling of 49 meV.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xunshan Liu, Adam Matej, Tim Kratky, Jesus Mendieta-Moreno, Sebastian Guenther, Pingo Mutombo, Silvio Decurtins, Ulrich Aschauer, Jascha Repp, Pavel Jelinek, Shi-Xia Liu, Laerte L. Patera
Summary: In this study, selective C-H activation of hexaazatriphenylene by Scholl reaction was reported for the first time, achieving dehydrogenative C-C couplings. The formation of one-dimensional polymers with a double-chain structure was revealed using low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Density functional theory calculations rationalized the growth process, highlighting the cooperative catalytic action of Na and Ag adatoms in steering the C-H selectivity for polymerization.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zhiwen Zeng, Dezhou Guo, Tao Wang, Qifan Chen, Adam Matej, Jianmin Huang, Dong Han, Qian Xu, Aidi Zhao, Pavel Jelinek, Dimas G. de Oteyza, Jean-Sabin Mcewen, Junfa Zhu
Summary: The study demonstrates the clear interdependence between surface-supported reactions and molecular-adsorption configurations, revealing completely different reaction pathways for two biphenyl-based molecules with different bromine substituents on an Ag(111) surface. The underlying reaction mechanism is unraveled through a combination of techniques including low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy, synchrotron radiation photoemission spectroscopy, and density functional theory calculations. Different chemisorption-induced precursor states between the molecules ultimately lead to distinct reaction pathways, highlighting the importance of surface interactions in determining reaction outcomes.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Jae Whan Park, Euihwan Do, Jin Sung Shin, Sun Kyu Song, Oleksandr Stetsovych, Pavel Jelinek, Han Woong Yeom
Summary: The study observed the movement of fractionalized phase defects in atomic chains formed along step edges of silicon surfaces, showing that these solitons can have fractional charges and can be created and annihilated at desired locations through current pulses. These mobile and manipulable topological solitons may serve as robust, topologically protected information carriers in future information technology.
NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Kalyan Biswas, Lin Yang, Ji Ma, Ana Sanchez-Grande, Qifan Chen, Koen Lauwaet, Jose M. Gallego, Rodolfo Miranda, David ecija, Pavel Jelinek, Xinliang Feng, Jose I. Urgel
Summary: The synthesis of nanographenes with open-shell ground states has attracted increasing attention due to their interesting physicochemical properties and potential applications in carbon-based magnetism. This study reports the on-surface synthesis of three open-shell nanographenes with non-benzenoid structures and investigates their properties using various techniques. The results provide access to new types of open-shell nanographenes that were previously difficult to synthesize.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Euihwan Do, Jae Whan Park, Oleksandr Stetsovych, Pavel Jelinek, Han Woong Yeom
Summary: In this study, the low-temperature structural distortion of a one-dimensional electronic system formed on Au-decorated vicinal silicon surfaces is unambiguously identified using high-resolution atomic force microscopy and scanning tunneling microscopy. The buckling of the step-edge Si chains, forming trimer unit cells, is found to be the most important structural element of this surface. This observation supports the recent model of rehybridized dangling bonds and contradicts the previously proposed antiferromagnetic spin ordering.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Benjamin Lowe, Jack Hellerstedt, Adam Matej, Pingo Mutombo, Dhaneesh Kumar, Martin Ondracek, Pavel Jelinek, Agustin Schiffrin
Summary: This study investigates the interaction between 9,10-dicyanoanthracene molecules and gold adatoms on a silver surface, and reveals a mechanism for selective cleavage of C-H bonds and formation of organometallic compounds at room temperature. By harnessing the catalytic activity of single metal atoms, this research provides promising routes for future synthesis of functional organic and organometallic materials.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Kalyan Biswas, Diego Soler, Shantanu Mishra, Qiang Chen, Xuelin Yao, Ana Sanchez-Grande, Kristjan Eimre, Pingo Mutombo, Cristina Martin-Fuentes, Koen Lauwaet, Jose M. Gallego, Pascal Ruffieux, Carlo A. Pignedoli, Klaus Mullen, Rodolfo Miranda, Jose I. Urgel, Akimitsu Narita, Roman Fasel, Pavel Jelinek, David Ecij
Summary: This study explores three families of nanographenes (A, B, and C) and finds that open-shell nanographenes exhibit the strongest magnetic exchange coupling, especially near the transition from closed-shell to open-shell states. Experimental results confirm the predictions, and two specific nanographenes show record values of magnetic exchange coupling measured on the Au(111) surface, close to 200 meV. This research provides insights for designing carbon nanomaterials with robust magnetic ground states.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Eduardo Corral Rascon, Alexander Riss, Adam Matej, Alissa Wiengarten, Pingo Mutombo, Diego Soler, Pavel Jelinek, Willi Auwaerter
Summary: The study presents a surface chemistry route for synthesizing square-type porphyrin tetramers with a central COT ring, coexisting with other oligomers. It demonstrates the access to surface-supported, unsubstituted porphyrin tetramers that are not easily achievable by conventional synthesis means. The molecular structures and electronic structure, including the antiaromaticity induced by the COT moiety, are elucidated through atomic-level characterization and density functional theory modeling.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Federico Frezza, Frederik Schiller, Ales Cahlik, Jose Enrique Ortega, Johannes V. Barth, Andres Arnau, Maria Blanco-Rey, Pavel Jelinek, Martina Corso, Ignacio Piquero-Zulaica
Summary: In this study, quinoidal ligands were reacted with single cobalt atoms on an Au(788) surface in ultra-high vacuum, resulting in the formation of cobalt-quinoid chains. The electronic structure of these chains was investigated using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, and their narrow bandgap structure was revealed using low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy. Theoretical calculations confirmed that the observed electronic bands originated from the efficient hybridization of cobalt and molecular orbitals. This work provides a foundation for the systematic search of similar one-dimensional π-d hybridized metal-organic chains with tunable electronic and magnetic properties.
News Item
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
P. Jelinek
Summary: An organic quantum magnet has been created by synthesizing short chains of porphyrin derivatives on a surface and manipulating atoms using a scanning probe microscope tip.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Tao Wang, Paula Angulo-Portugal, Alejandro Berdonces-Layunta, Andrej Jancarik, Andre Gourdon, Jan Holec, Manish Kumar, Diego Soler, Pavel Jelinek, David Casanova, Martina Corso, Dimas G. de Oteyza, Jan Patrick Calupitan
Summary: The coupling of a sterically demanded pentacene derivative on Au(111) into fused dimers connected by non-benzenoid rings was studied using high-resolution scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy and density functional theory. The diradical character of the products was tuned by modifying the coupling section, with the antiaromaticity of cyclobutadiene and its position within the structure playing a significant role. Understanding these structure-property relationships is crucial for designing new complex and functional molecular structures.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Sujoy Karan, Tobias Frank, Tobias Preis, Jonathan Eroms, Jaroslav Fabian, Ferdinand Evers, Jascha Repp
Summary: This study investigates the interaction between a zero-energy edge mode in a graphene nanoribbon and an Abrikosov-Suhl resonance located at a Kondo impurity. By on-surface synthesis and atomic manipulation, the atomic geometry of the system is fully controlled. The results show that the interaction of the two localized states and the resulting signatures of Kondo physics are highly sensitive to the placement of the atom, suggesting its use as a laboratory to study the interplay of the Kondo effect with other zero-bias anomalies and tailor these states by controlling the atomic-scale coupling.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Laerte L. Patera, Josef Amler, Jascha Repp
Summary: This study demonstrates the selective on-surface synthesis of extended all-trans poly(2,6-pyridine) chains on Au(111). By using high-resolution scanning tunneling and atomic force microscopy, the detailed chemical structure of the reaction products was revealed. Density functional theory calculations suggest that the synthesis of extended covalent structures is energetically favored over the formation of macrocycles due to the minimization of internal strain.
CHEMISTRY-SWITZERLAND
(2022)
