| We
are using both the STM and a novel STM/AFM combination instrument
to probe electron transfer in single molecules. This is important
for understanding processes such as photosynthesis and for building
molecular electronic devices. It also touches on some interesting
quantum mechanics!
To do this, we need to be able to make a variety of interesting
molecules and tether them to a conducting substrate. We are
working with Tom and Anna Moore and Devens Gust of the ASU
Center for Early Events in Photosynthesis. We meet regularly
to design new molecules, review our measurements and translate
physics-speak into chemistry-speak and vice versa. Considerable
effort is needed in pulling together the theoretical approaches
of physicists and chemists, and one of collaborators (Peter
Rez) is a theoretical physicist working on this problem.
This work is funded by the Division of Biological Instrumentation
of the NSF.
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