Our areas of interest are self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) and two dimensional supramolecular systems which allow flexible tailoring of interfacial properties and surface patterning. Different types of SAMs, hydrogen bonded networks or metal-organic coordination networks (MOCN) are investigated. Aiming for a control of structures and processes at surfaces on a length scale down to molecular dimensions we are particularly interested in the combination of SAMs and hydrogen bonded networks as two complementary self-assembly strategies (right image).¹ Another major activity is the further development of a scheme for the generation of electrode structures² where SAMs are used as templates to laterally confine reactions such as electrochemical metal deposition (left image).

The work on nanoscale applications of self-assembled organic layers is paralleled by fundamental studies to unravel the factors determining the structure and properties of SAMs. For a precise design of these systems we aim for a better understanding of the mutual influence of intra and intermolecular forces, molecule-surface interactions and electrochemical properties.^3-5

All the work is characterised by a solution based approach which makes in situ techniques, i.e., methods which are applicable at the liquid/solid interface, crucial for our experimental studies. Of particular interest to us is the electrochemical interface where we apply both nonlinear optical spectroscopies (second harmonic generation, SHG, and sum frequency generation, SFG) and microscopic techniques such as electrochemical tunneling microscopy (ECSTM).

SELECTED RECENT PUBLICATIONS

1. Functionalizing hydrogen-bonded surface networks with self-assembled monolayers. R. Madueno, M. T. Räisänen, C.Silien, M. Buck, Nature 2008, 454, 618-621.
2. Replicative generation of metal microstructures by template directed electrometallization. I. Thom, G. Hähner, M. Buck, Appl. Phys. Lett. 2005, 87, 024101-3.
3. On the Role of Extrinsic and Intrinsic Defects in the Underpotential Deposition of Cu on Thiol-Modified Au(111) Electrodes. C. Silien, M. Buck, J. Phys. Chem. C 2008, 112, 3881-3890.
4. Self-Assembled Monolayers of a Bis(pyrazol-1-yl)pyridine-Substituted Thiol on Au(111). C. Shen, M. Haryono, A. Grohmann, M. Buck, T. Weidner, N. Ballav, M. Zharnikov, Langmuir 2008 24, 12883-12891.
5. Competition as a design concept: Polymorphism in Self-Assembled Monolayers of Biphenyl-Based Thiols. P. Cyganik, M. Buck, T. Strunskus, A. Shaporenko, J.D.E.T. Wilton-Ely, M. Zharnikov, C. Wöll, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2006, 128, 13868-13878.