The research of the Nanochemistry Laboratory is focused on unravelling and controlling the architecture vs. function relationship in complex and multicomponent supramolecular graphene-based and conjugated materials for organic electronics, to ultimately fabricate prototypes of (supra)molecular nanodevices operating at surfaces. The main research themes include:

• Scanning Probe Microscopies beyond imaging to gain insight into mechanical (AFM) and electronic/electrical properties (STM, C-AFM, KPFM) of nanostructures molecular materials with a nanoscale resolution.
• Achieving a full control over the formation of 2D multicomponent nanoscale architectures based on pre-programmed molecular modules. This requires the complete understanding over the kinetics and thermodynamics of the self-assembly process, by combining experimental and computational approaches.
• Nanoelectronics with single molecules or supramolecular assemblies to fabricate prototypes of 2- and 3-terminal nanocircuits.
• Nanoswitches and nanomotors operating at surfaces to construct responsive functional nanomaterials.
• Graphene chemistry and electronics.

Keywords:

• Materials chemistry
• Nanochemistry and nanophysics of interfaces
• Hierarchical self-assembly of hybrid systems
• Nanoscale multifunctional structures
• Characterization of hybrid nanostructures with Scanning Force Microscopy Scanning Tunnelling Microscopy based set-ups
• Scale dependent physico-chemical properties
• Nanofabrication and nanopatterning
• Study of the electronic structure of organic thin films with Photoelectron Spectroscopies
• Electronic properties and doping of organic thin films
• Charge transfer in conjugated molecular systems
• Fabrication supramolecular electronic (nano)devices
• Physical-chemistry phenomena of macromolecules at surfaces
• Graphene