01/2025 Low temperature multimode atomic force microscopy using an active MEMS cantilever

Low temperature atomic force microscopy is routinely performed using qPlus tuning fork sensors. Here, we demonstrate that a piezoelectric MEMS cantilever can achieve higher contrast in AFM frequency shift images at high imaging speeds compared to qPlus sensors.

Original publication:

Michael G. Ruppert, Miguel Wiche, André Schirmeisen and Daniel Ebeling

Nanoscale 2025, 17, 10600-10608

https://doi.org/10.1039/D4NR04169K

09/2024 Imaging adsorption sites of organic molecules by an adaptive tunnelling current feedback

AFM Switch Image for website2.png — Image: Daniel Martin-Jimenez

An automation method for AFM imaging that provides in a single image both, submolecular resolution on organic molecules and atomic resolution on the surrounding metallic surface has been developed. The method is based on an adaptive tunnelling current feedback system that is regulated according to the response of the AFM observables, which guarantees that both the molecules and the surface atoms are imaged under optimum conditions. This facilitates statistical analysis of molecular adsorption geometries and could in the future contribute to autonomous AFM imaging as it adapts the feedback parameters depending on the sample properties.

Original publication:

Daniel Martin-Jimenez, Qigang Zhong, André Schirmeisen and Daniel Ebeling

Nanotechnology 2024, 35, 475703

https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6528/ad726a

12/2023 Leibniz-Preis für PriOSS-Chemiker Prof. Dr. Peter R. Schreiner

news22-04-2 — Prof. Dr. Peter Schreiner ist Leibniz-Preisträger 2024. Foto: JLU/Katrina Friese

Der Chemiker Prof. Dr. Peter R. Schreiner vom Institut für Organische Chemie der Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen (JLU) erhält den Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz-Preis 2024 der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG). Die mit 2,5 Millionen Euro dotierte Auszeichnung gilt als wichtigster deutscher Forschungsförderpreis und wird einmal im Jahr an herausragende Wissenschaftlerinnen und Wissenschaftler verliehen.

Pressemitteilung der JLU

06/2023 Handmade Molecules: P3N3

animation P3N3.gif — Animation: Franziska Schmitz

On-surface synthesis was used to create the structurally elusive P3N3, an inorganic aromatic analogue of benzene. We report the preparation of this fleetingly existing species on Cu(111) and Au(111) surfaces at 5.2 K through molecular manipulation with unprecedented precision.

Original Publication:

Q. Zhong, A. Mardyuvok, E. Solel, D. Ebeling, A. Schirmeisen and P. R. Schreiner. On-Surface Synthesis and Real-Space Visualization of Aromatic P₃N₃. Angewandte Chemie International Edition e202310121(2023). http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/anie.202310121

05/2023 International Symposium of LOEWE Focus Project "PriOSS"

From May 8 to 10, 2023 the first international symposium of the LOEWE focus group PriOSS “Principles of On-Surface Synthesis” took place in Schloss Rauischholzhausen. During the three symposium days over 60 participants discussed their recent research results in the field of on-surface synthesis, which is a multidisciplinary field encompassing physicist, chemists as well as material scientists. New strategies for the design of new organic nanomaterials with unique properties as well as new characterization methods were presented.

10/2022 "ERC Synergy Grant for PriOSS chemist Michael Gottfried"

European Research Council funds search for unusual ring-shaped carbon compounds for applications in organic electronics

news22-10 — Marburg surface and nano researcher Prof. Dr. Michael Gottfried in his laboratory. Photo: Jan Hosan

Prof. Dr. Michael Gottfried from the University of Marburg has received an ERC Synergy Grant from the European Research Council (ERC) together with Prof. Dr. Michael Mastalerz from the University of Heidelberg and Prof. Dr. Holger Bettinger from the University of Tübingen. With their project "Tackling the Cyclacene Challenge" (TACY), the three researchers are pursuing the goal of generating a special class of ring-shaped carbon compounds - the cyclacenes - for the first time. The European Research Council is funding the project with around 11 million euros. Of this, around 4.5 million euros is earmarked for the research work at Philipps-Universität Marburg.

original article in german

04/2022 "A deep look into the molecule"

A CO-functionalized tip used for low-temperature atomic force microscopy twisting along the longitudinal axis of the sensor above an isochrysene molecle on a surface. — Graphic: Miriam Ebeling and Daniel Ebeling

Scientists from the LOEWE research-initiative PriOSS (Principles of On-Surface Synthesis) and the University of Newcastle (UON) in Australia have jointly developed a new measurement method to visualize the chemical structure of single molecules. A low-temperature atomic force microscope (AFM) was used for the measurements, which scans the sample with an extremely sharp tip that is functionalized with a single CO molecule. The excitation of a torsional eigenmode of the tuning fork sensor (twisting along the longitudinal axis) results in a nearly lateral vibration of the CO tip with an amplitude of only a few picometers, which perfectly suited for performing lateral force microscopy (LFM) with single bond resolution.

Original Publication

Daniel Martin-Jimenez, Michael G. Ruppert, Alexander Ihle, Sebastian Ahles, Hermann A. Wegner, André Schirmeisen and Daniel Ebeling. "Chemical bond imaging using torsional and flexural higher eigenmodes of qPlus sensors." Nanoscale 14, 5329, 2022 (Cover Article). https://doi.org/10.1039/D2NR01062C

JLU Press release link to article

04/2022 "Organic chemistry under extreme conditions: Prof. Peter R. Schreiner receives ERC Advanced Grant"

Top researcher at the Institute of Organic Chemistry at the University of Giessen awarded the most important European funding prize - 2.5 million euros for the next five years

Light at the end of the tunnel: A "tunnel" plays a central role in the research work of chemist Prof. Dr. Peter R. Schreiner. The internationally renowned and multi-award-winning top researcher, who is considered one of the pioneers of organocatalysis, has discovered the mechanism of tunneling control of reactions with his team at the Institute of Organic Chemistry at Justus Liebig University Giessen (JLU) and demonstrated its prevalence. In addition to thermodynamic and kinetic control, he was thus able to scientifically establish a third driving force of chemical reactions: "Tunneling" is important both for understanding and designing chemical reactions. To continue and expand his groundbreaking research on "tunneling" as a driving force for chemical reactions, Prof. Schreiner receives an ERC Advanced Grant. The European Union will fund his project "Cold Organic Chemistry" (COLDOC) with 2.5 million euros over the next five years.

original article in german

09/2021 "Handmade Nanoarchitectures"

link to article

Animation: Franziska Schmitz In a recent paper in Nature Chemistry we show how to build nanostructures using individual organic molecules one by one with an atomic force microscope. This opens the path to prototyping of new molecular structures, otherwise impossible to fabricate.