Fluorescence Spectroscopy on Molecules on Surfaces in the Limit of Low Coverages

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Moritz Sokolowski
• Subject Area: Physical Chemistry of Solids and Surfaces, Material Characterisation ; Physical Chemistry of Molecules, Liquids and Interfaces, Biophysical Chemistry
• Term: from 2014 to 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 251491629

The aim of this project is to obtain information on organic molecules on dielectric surfaces from fluorescence (FL) and FL excitation spectroscopy in the limit of very low coverages. The project exploits the high spectral resolution and sensitivity of FL spectroscopy and intends to bring the experiments even to the single molecule detection level. The experiments will be performed on well-defined surfaces (NaCl/KCl(100)) with concomitant structural control by surface science techniques like low energy electron diffraction and scanning tunneling microscopy. It is supposed that such experiments will give information on the following aspects: (a) the electronic/geometric state of a molecule modified upon bonding to a dielectric surface, (b) the influence of different adsorption sites on the optical spectra and the question whether inhomogenous line broadening can be reduced by selective adsorption, e.g. at specific defect sites, (c) the kinetics of diffusion, site migration, and photochemical processes of a molecule on a surface, and finally, (d) for small molecular aggregates, a quantification of intermolecular coupling and its role for superradiant emission processes.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Major Instrumentation: cw ring laser
• Instrumentation Group: 5790 Sonstige Laser und Zubehör (außer 570-578)