Surface Science

Research is focused on the investigation of self-assembly phenomena of organic molecules on well-defined metal surfaces or ultra-thin insulating films under ultra-high vacuum conditions. Special emphasis is put on the understanding of interactions (both intermolecular and molecule-substrate interactions) and processes on the atomic and molecular scale leading to self-organized supramolecular nanostructures. In addition to scanning probe methods at variable temperatures, classical surface science techniques such as XPS, UPS, LEED etc. are employed. With these techniques complementary information about the structure and electronics are acquired.

Self-assembled molecular nanosystems are relevant to the development of new nanoscale functional materials and are thought to provide producible and addressable miniaturized devices for future applications.