SFU Canada Research Chairs Seminar Series: "Controlling the Surfaces of Matter"

Abstract

We aim to understand the scale to which the surface chemistry of materials can be uniformly manipulated and the robustness of these alterations. Of particular importance is our ability to alter the surface chemistry of materials on the nanoscale. Developments in nanotechnology have opened the doors to our ability to manipulate and design materials on a scale approaching that of a single atom. Harnessing these achievements requires an ability to match this level of design with molecular-scale control over the surface chemistry of nanomaterials. One approach is to coat the surfaces of these materials through the selective assembly and adhesion of organic molecules. Such surface modifications can modify the chemical and physical properties of a material without significantly changing its appearance or dimensions. We are pursuing the use of these single-molecule thick coatings for a diverse range of applications that include remotely controlled release of molecules for stimulating biological systems, and improved techniques for incorporating nanoscale electrical and optical materials into devices. How durable are single-molecule thick coatings? How do the observed properties correlate with non-uniformities in the assembled films? This presentation will introduce the tools and techniques we are developing to evaluate the homogeneity and durability of these surface modifications, how we are improving their stability, and how we are utilizing these molecular-scale coatings to harness the advantages of nanoscale materials.