Surface Chemistry

Our research aims at obtaining mechanistic insight into atomic-scale chemical processes occurring at surfaces. Current research topics span from the synthesis and imaging of two-dimensional covalent organic frameworks for energy conversion, to single-atom catalysts for hydrocarbon polymerization. Special attention is given to the development of novel imaging approaches based on scanning probe microscopy, aiming at resolving photoexcited states at the atomic scale. Sub-molecular characterization of atomic-scale structures is provided by scanning tunneling and atomic force microscopy (STM-AFM) and complemented by X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS), which adds chemical sensitivity.

Laerte Patera

Team

Publications

News

05.11.2025

New publication: Elucidating the Role of NaCl in the on-Surface Synthesis of Conjugated Azaacene Polymers on Au(111)

On-surface synthesis (OSS) offers unique opportunities for producing carbon-based nanostructures that cannot be achieved using conventional wet-chemical methods. In this study, the role of sodium chloride (NaCl) in the Scholl reaction (oxidative aryl–aryl coupling) of hexaazatriphenylene (HAT) molecules on Au(111), which leads to the growth of conjugated azaacene oligomers, was investigated.

Read the article: https://chemistry-europe.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/chem.202502452

02.10.2025

First synthesis of a 2D boron oxide crystal

Together with colleagues in Trieste, we report the first synthesis of a two-dimensional crystalline boron oxide film – a material that had so far only been predicted theoretically.

Our study shows that this 2D boron oxide consists of boroxol rings, is highly flexible (around ten times more elastic than graphene), has a large band gap, and could be detached from the substrate, making it of potential interest for future applications in electronics, catalysis, and quantum technologies.

The work has now been published in Science: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adv2582
University’s newsroom: https://www.uibk.ac.at/de/newsroom/2025/erstmalige-synthese-von-zweidimensionalem-boroxid-kristall/

30.07.2025

Congratulations to Dr. Marco Thaler

Today, Marco successfully defended his PhD thesis “Synthesis and Atomic-Scale Characterization of Nanostructures on Surfaces” — achieving the best possible grade. A fantastic achievement and a well-deserved recognition of his hard work and dedication. Well done, Marco!

02.06.2025

Review Article on Charge-State Control of Single Molecules with Atomic Force Microscopy

A new review article has been published in Chemical Reviews exploring the control of charge states in individual molecules using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). This work is the result of a collaboration with Shadi Fatayer (KAUST), Jascha Repp (University of Regensburg), and Leo Gross (IBM).

Read the article: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acs.chemrev.4c00899

15.05.2025

Laerte elected to the Young Academy of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW)

Laerte has been elected as a member of the Young Academy of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW). The Young Academy brings together up to 70 outstanding scholars from diverse disciplines. Its mission is to strengthen innovative fields of research, improve conditions for early-career researchers, and promote interdisciplinary exchange through scientific workshops and events.

Further information: https://www.oeaw.ac.at/news/junge-akademie-der-oeaw-nimmt-acht-neue-mitglieder-auf

29.04.2025

New publication: Substrate Polarization Alters the Jahn-Teller Effect in a Single Molecule

In collaboration with University of Regensburg, Donostia International Physics Center and Ikerbasque, we show that due to the stabilizing (polarization) effect of the NaCl-substrate two electrons can localize in the same orbital of a Cu-Phthalocyanine, altering the Jahn-Teller distortion.

Link to the article: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.134.176203

03.03.2015

New Master’s Student – Walburga Bischofberger

Walburga joins our group for her Master’s thesis, co-supervised by Ass.-Prof. Dr. Heidi Schwarz (Department of General, Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Innsbruck)

16.03.2025-21.03.2025

DPG Conference

Marco, Matthias, and Laerte attended the 88th Annual Meeting of the DPG in Berlin. The conference featured 3849 contributions, with the largest participation from the field of surface physics. Marco and Matthias each contributed with a talk.

Link to the conference: DPG Spring Meetings 2025

19.03.2025

New Publication in ACS Material Letters

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) enhance organic electronics by improving interface passivation and carrier transport. This study explores the thermal transformation of carbazole-derived SAMs on gold electrodes, revealing a shift from organometallic to oligomeric complexes. These changes lower the work function, improving electron injection in n-type transistors. The findings highlight on-surface synthesis as a promising approach for tuning electrode properties in organic devices. The study was carried out in collaboration with colleagues from KAUST.

03.03.2025

New PhD student - Benjamin Achatz

Benjamin Achatz joins our group as a PhD student. In his research he will investigate photoactive molecules with a STM/AFM microscope.

22.01.2025

New Publication in Chemistry - A European Journal

Dihydrogen bonding (DHB) is a unique interaction between hydrogen atoms with opposite partial charges. Our study provides the first direct observation of DHB in borazine assemblies on Au(111) using low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy. Supported by density functional theory, we reveal how DHB stabilizes single and double bonding configurations, playing a pivotal role in borazine’s self-assembly on metal surfaces—a key step in understanding nanoscale molecular organization.

10.12.2024

New Publication in Advanced Materials

Contact resistance limits OTFT performance. To address this, three thiol carbazole-based SAMs modify gold electrode work function, enhancing charge injection. Ordered SAMs improve hole transport, while disordered ones favor electron transport. This approach enables high-performance OTFTs and all-organic inverters, showcasing a simple yet effective contact engineering strategy. The study was carried out in collaboration with colleagues from KAUST.

17.07.2024

New Publication in ACS Nano

We are proud to announce that our latest paper, "Emergence of Band Structure in a Two-Dimensional Metal–Organic Framework upon Hierarchical Self-Assembly," has been published in ACS Nano on July 17, 2024.

This study, a result of a collaboration with the Jülich Research Center, the University of Graz, and the Elettra Synchrotron, showcases the on-surface synthesis of a 2D metal-organic framework (2D-MOF) with significant π-conjugation. Our findings demonstrate how the band structure in 2D-MOFs emerges through the coupling of electronic states in the building blocks.

Read the full open-access article here.

Congratulations to our entire international team for this outstanding achievement!

01.07.2024

New PhD student - Jinhui Guo

Jinhui Guo joins our group as a PhD student. In her research she will investigate photoactive molecules with a STM/AFM microscope.

23.04.2024 - 29.04.2024

XPS beamtime at ALBA

Members of our group in collaboration with Prof. Dr. Zhiyu Zou (Harbin university, China) participated to a beamtime at the NAPP endstation of the ALBA synchrotron. We exploited near-ambient pressure X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (NAP-XPS) to study the growth of two-dimensional organic crystals.

03.04.2024

New Master student - Benjamin Achatz

Benjamin Achatz joins our group as a Master's student. He will investigate photoactive molecules on surfaces, exploiting our new LT-STM/AFM system.

18.03.2024-22.03.2024

DPG Conference

Marco, Matthias, and Laerte attended the 87th Annual Meeting of the DPG in Berlin. The conference featured 5634 contributions, with the largest participation from the field of surface physics. Marco and Matthias each contributed a poster presentation to the conference. Laerte gave a talk on the formation of 2D covalent organic frameworks.

Link to the conference: DPG Spring Meetings 2024

15.02.2024

New microscope

Our group just received a new LT-STM/AFM system. The microscope has been purchased thanks to the ERC funding and will allow us to study photoexcited states at the single-molecule level!

10.01.2024

Job opening: PhD position on Exciton Imaging in Two-Dimensional Photoactive Materials

Join our group as a Ph.D. candidate and contribute to groundbreaking research funded by the ERC Starting Grant "WEPOF." We focus on unraveling the mysteries of excitonic phenomena within covalent organic frameworks, with the ultimate goal of advancing photoenergy conversion efficiency in these materials. More info here: Phd position

13.11.2023 - 17.11.2023

801. WE-Heraeus-Seminar “Plenty of Room at the Bottom – New Developments in Scanning Probe Tools”

Marco and Laerte attended the 801. WEH Workshop in Bad Honnef at the Physikzentrum Bad Honnef, which took place from November 13th to 17th.

The workshop was organized by Laerte, Philip Willke (KIT, Germany) and DJ Choi (CFM/MPC, Spain) and kindly supported by the Wilhelm and Else Heraeus Foundation. Marco presented a poster on his recent results on the atomic-scale characterization of the boron nitride/Pt(110) interface.

Link to the conference: 801. WE-Heraeus-Seminar