Conrad Becker

Activity

Molecular layers, nanoparticles, heterogeneous catalysis, alloys, STM

Thèmes

Nanostructured surfaces

Model catalysts

Molecular films

Low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy

Adsorption on bimetallic surfacesReactivity of bimetallic surfaces

Recherche

Oxide supported bimetallic nanoparticles

We use a template-controlled approach for the fabrication of well organized arrays of bimetallic nanoparticles on thin alumina films on Ni₃Al(111). The morphology and the size of the nanoparticles is characterized by STM. The reactivity as a function of the nanoparticles size and composition can be monitored using molecular beam reactive scattering (MBRS).

Thin films of organic semiconductors

In this field of research we focus our attention to molecules, which are synthesized in the Molecular Engineering Department of the CINaM. Two classes of molecules are currently under investigation: azapentacenes and oligophenylenevinylene. These molecules are deposited by physical vapor deposition on single crystal surfaces (metals and thin oxide films) and are analyzed using STM, STS, and nc-AFM. _/This activity is supported by the Austrian FWF and the French ANR via the project: {{GroPolOMol}} (Growth of polar organic molecules on graphene and sapphire) ANR-14-CE34-0003

Microscopy and Optical Spectroscopy of Organic Layers

By combining microscopic and spectroscopic techniques we will correlate the structural and morphological properties of the molecular layers with their electronic and optical properties and to gain a deeper insight into the structure-property relationship of the organic layers. As a model system we will study the adsorption of (DHTAP) molecules on pristine and modified Cu(110) surfaces. The substrate modification is achieved by pre-adsorption of oxygen or nitrogen, inducing different surface reconstructions that significantly alter the structural, electronic and chemical properties at the Cu(110) surface. In this way, we want to explore the influence of the metal-organic interface on the adsorption and growth of the DHTAP molecules, their structure and orientation on the surface, as well as the ensuing electronic and optical properties of the organic layers.

This activity is supported by the Austrian Agency for International Cooperation in Education and Research (OeAD) Project No. FR 12/2017 and Campus France PHC AMADEUS 2017 projet No. 38069TB (MOSOL).

Parcours

Professor of Physics at CINaM, Aix-Marseille University, France

Habilitation in Physical Chemistry, University of Bonn, Germany

Scientist at the Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Bonn, Germany

Postdoc at CRMC2, Marseille, France

PhD in Physical Chemistry at University of Bonn, Germany