School of Physics & Astronomy
 

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Alex Saywell

Assistant Professor, Faculty of Science

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Research Summary

My research is focused upon the investigation of organisation, interaction, and chemistry of nanoscale molecular systems confi ned to a 2D substrate. Scanning probe techniques allow molecular… read more

Recent Publications

Current Research

My research is focused upon the investigation of organisation, interaction, and chemistry of nanoscale molecular systems confi ned to a 2D substrate. Scanning probe techniques allow molecular architectures to be studied both on the single molecule level, with sub-molecular resolution, and as an ensemble formed from homo- or hetero-molecular mixtures. I am interested in studying, and in influencing, the varied chemical and physical interactions present in these systems. These interactions can give rise to self-assembled molecular structures and, by a careful choice of molecular functionalities and surface reactivity, may result in chemical reactions.

Scanning probe techniques, such as STM and AFM, provide the ability to acquire real space images of the molecule/substrate systems either as static structures or as dynamic processes and can provide a wealth of insight into the evolution of on-surface structures. In addition to this global picture of the molecule/substrate system, the STM/AFM probe may be used to investigate the chemical, conformational, and electronic properties of individual molecules or specifi c chemical groups within a molecule. Knowledge and understanding of such interactions may facilitate the development of new functional materials whose attributes are determined by their nanoscale properties.

School of Physics and Astronomy

The University of Nottingham
University Park
Nottingham NG7 2RD

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