NANOLANTA · Nanoengineering of functional lanthanide tetrapyrrole systems

The paradigm of the project is to develop a whole set of novel 2D and 3D nanostructures of next generation organic materials (lanthanide porphyroids) on metallic surfaces. This experience will help the researcher to become a principal investigator in the near future. The organic nanostructures will be created in ultra high vacuum conditions by molecular beam organic deposition on metallic monocrystalline substrates. The samples will be geometrically characterized by low temperature STM; electrically by STS, XPS, UPS and NEXAFS; and magnetically by XMCD and Kerr at ultra low temperature. The complexity of the project means a quite interdisplinary work both scientifically and technically. A close collaboration is expected among experimental physicists, experimental chemists and theoretical physicists (ab initio and DFT). We will use two porphyroids: phthalocyanines and porphyrins, because of their remarkable temperature stability, photoelectric properties and versatility. These are aromatic macrocycle molecules with a empty cavity in their centre. The idea is first to grow one monolayer film of porphyroid and then filled the cavities by a subsequent deposition of a lanthanide material, creating a single decker. This nanostructure will be used as a template where to study the coordination properties of the huge lanthanide atom. One set of experiments will be related to catalytic properties towards the adsorption of oxygen and carbon dioxide. A second step of experiments would imply the deposition of a porphyroid on top of the lanthanide porphyroid film with the objective of creating a double decker nanostructures (porphyroid/lanthanide/porphyroid). The proximity of the two rings make them promising as basic units for: molecular semiconductors; optical gas sensors (including artificial noses), electrochemical sensors and mass sensors; organic field-effect transistors; and single molecular magnets. These applications are priorities of the European Technology Platforms.