Professor Shaowei Li
UC San Diego
On-Demand Control of Single-Molecule Chemistry through Vibrational Characterization and Manipulation
Location: 1080 Physics Research Building
Faculty Host: Jay Gupta
Abstract: Chemical processes hinge on the dynamic rearrangement of nuclei within molecules. Controlling these motions with precision has been a long-standing goal in chemistry. My lab focuses on achieving this by manipulating interactions between individual molecules and their nanoscale environment. We engineer the potential energy surface at this scale to control molecular properties such as structure and reactivity. Using vibrational characterization techniques with scanning tunneling microscopy (STM)—including inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy, action spectroscopy, and our recent advancement in single-molecule infrared absorption spectroscopy—we analyze molecular responses to the variation in the nano-chemical environment by examining their fingerprinting vibrational modes at the sub-molecular scale. By precisely tuning the junction geometry, material, and the interaction between the molecule and other surface entities, we can selectively influence specific bonds, paving the way for bond-selective control in chemistry.
