Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	GR/R55443/01
Title:	Site Selective Catalysis at the Molecular Level using Atomic Force Microscopy
Principal Investigator:	Davis, Professor J
Other Investigators:	Coleman, Professor K
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department:	Oxford Chemistry
Organisation:	University of Oxford
Scheme:	Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts:	01 June 2002	Ends:	30 September 2005	Value (£):	116,008
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Surfaces & Interfaces
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:	Manufacturing Electronics No relevance to Underpinning Sectors
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Summary on Grant Application Form
It is proposed to explore and develop the currently unaddressed field of site selective catalysis at the molecular level using atomic force microscopy. Within the realm of nanoelectronics and nanotithography, it would be highly desirable to pattern surfaces and induce chemical changes with something approaching sub-nanometre contol. Although current technology is largely limited to a micrometre resolution, in recent years nanolithographic methods, based on the physical force imparted during atomic force microscopy (AFM) or scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) have achieved sub-micrometre patterning. We aim to achieve molecular control by using transition metal catalysts anchored onto AFM tips. Molecular transition metal complexes, ubiquitous In catalysis, will be attached to an AFM tip by appropriate ligand design. Thiol functionalised ligands will be used to attach the metal catalyst to gold-coated tips and alkoxy-silyl groups utilised to attach the complex to silicon tips. The catalyst functionalised tips willl then, under solution conditions in the presence of appropriate reagents, be moved across the surface of styrene or bromoarene self-assembled monolayers to conduct surface specific reactions. In the first Instance simple catalytic reactions such as Heck olefination reactions and aryl carbon - carbon coupling reactions will be investigated. Once successful our approach will be extended to include the patterning of molecular wires onto surfaces where the length and direction can be strictly controlled. If successful, this work would have considerable application in the generation of nano-scale devices.
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Organisation Website:	http://www.ox.ac.uk