School of Physics & Astronomy
 

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Alex Saywell

Principal Research Fellow, Faculty of Science

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Biography

Alex Saywell is a Royal Society University Research Fellow (RS-URF) and holds a proleptic lectureship at the University of Nottingham. He has led a research group since 2016, focusing on the highly interdisciplinary area of molecular reactions and interactions on surfaces. His research employs scanning probe microscopies (SPM), including scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM), to characterise the structure and properties of complex functional molecules at surfaces in ultra-high vacuum (UHV) environments. A particular focus is the characterisation of on-surface synthesised 1D and 2D molecular structures and the development of methodologies for producing specific reaction products. His research has been supported by a series of fellowships: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) Eigene Stelle; Marie Curie Intra-European Fellowship; Nottingham Research Fellowship; and his current RS-URF.

Expertise Summary

My research focuses on the interdisciplinary area of on-surface molecular reactions and interactions. Scanning probe microscopy (SPM) techniques allow characterisation on the single-molecule, and even atomic, level. On-surface reactions involving molecular 'building-blocks', possessing specific chemical/physical functionality, facilitates synthesis of low-dimensional materials with novel properties. A challenge is to influence, and control, progress of the reaction and the resultant molecular structures. Over the last years I have developed methodologies, based on anisotropic surface structures and porous molecular templates (nanoscale 'test-tubes') to influence on-surface reactions.

In conjunction with SPM studies, synchrotron-based characterisation provides a complete structural, chemical, and electronic characterisation of the mechanisms underlying the observed on-surface processes. Our focus is on complex molecules/structures: possessing optical/chemical/physical/magnetic functionality. Transfer, and characterisation, of these species to a supporting substrate is a route to nanoscale devices (e.g. catalytic, 'gas-capture', or molecular-electronic materials).

Teaching Summary

Advanced Techniques for Nanoscience Research (PHYS4026 UNUK)

Research Summary

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

Selected Publications

  • EDMONDSON, MATTHEW and SAYWELL, ALEX, 2022. Molecular Diffusion and Self-Assembly: Quantifying the Influence of Substrate hcp and fcc Atomic Stacking NANO LETTERS. 22(20), 8210-8215
  • GOTFREDSEN, HENRIK, DENG, JIE-REN, VAN RADEN, JEFF M., RIGHETTO, MARCELLO, HERGENHAHN, JANKO, CLARKE, MICHAEL, BELLAMY-CARTER, ABIGAIL, HART, JACK, O'SHEA, JAMES, CLARIDGE, TIMOTHY D. W., DUARTE, FERNANDA, SAYWELL, ALEX, HERZ, LAURA M. and ANDERSON, HARRY L., 2022. Bending a photonic wire into a ring NATURE CHEMISTRY. 14(12), 1436-+
  • MAJEWSKI, MARCIN A., STAWSKI, WOJCIECH, VAN RADEN, JEFF M., CLARKE, MICHAEL, HART, JACK, O'SHEA, JAMES N., SAYWELL, ALEX and ANDERSON, HARRY L., 2023. Covalent Template-Directed Synthesis of a Spoked 18-Porphyrin Nanoring ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION.
  • EDMONDSON, MATTHEW, FRAMPTON, ELEANOR S., JUDD, CHRIS J., CHAMPNESS, NEIL R., JONES, ROBERT G. and SAYWELL, ALEX, 2022. Order, disorder, and metalation of tetraphenylporphyrin (2H-TPP) on Au(111) CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS. 58(42), 6247-6250

Current Research

My research is focused upon the investigation of organisation, interaction, and chemistry of nanoscale molecular systems confined 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 specific 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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