SFB 1636:  Elementary Processes of Light-Driven Reactions at Nanoscale Metals

• Subject Area: Chemistry ; Physics
• Term: since 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 510943930

Light-driven chemistry at nanoscale metals is an emerging, interdisciplinary research field. It is based on experimental and theoretical expertise ranging from nano-optics and condensed matter physics over physical chemistry to organic and inorganic chemistry. The vision is to not only control chemical reactions via the catalytic properties of nanoscale metals, but also to control and amend reaction paths so precisely that they may be activated by sunlight to enable sustainable technology. Chemical reactions that are amplified by coupling light into collective charge oscillations in the metal are known as "plasmonic chemistry", with controversial details such as the relevance of charge transfer and local heating in various reactions. Our research programme has two goals: We want to (A) develop a comprehensive, fundamental microscopic understanding of the primary processes that lead to light-driven chemical reactions at nanoscale metals based on a set of model systems. On the other hand, we want to (B) explore new chemical pathways based on plasmon-assisted chemistry with the long-term aim to establish new materials and new synthesis methods. The research activities in (A) therefore concentrate on elementary physical processes in model systems that form the basis for new chemical reactions (B) that take place at nanoscale metals. We focus on light-induced transformation of organic molecules, polymerisations and nanoparticle functionalization. With experiments and theoretical modelling we will investigate the elementary steps that make quantized photon energy usable for chemical reactivity: energetic electrons and holes generated by photo-excitation of the metal activate molecular bonds through charge transfer. At the same time, electronic energy is converted into vibrational excitations in the metal and its surroundings at the nanoscale. Phenomena such as hybrid light-matter states emerging through strong coupling and nanoscale heat transport including quantum effects are current challenges for experiments and modelling. Our arsenal of highly specific, ultrafast pump-probe techniques from mid-infrared to hard X-rays aims at recording the primary processes in their chronological sequence and elucidating them spectroscopically. Microscopy with atomic resolution and single molecule spectroscopy will help us to examine the reaction intermediates and products. Together we will develop and establish new plasmon-assisted synthesis schemes that enable light-induced selective and efficient chemistry. Our concentration of expertise provides an excellent opportunity to bring together researchers with strong backgrounds in chemical analysis and synthesis and characterising elementary processes. Timely interdisciplinary training across chemistry and physics will help to develop a modern view of light-driven chemistry based on modern methods of nanoscale control.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres

Current projects

• A01 - Understanding and steering nonequilibrium energy flow in metal molecule hybrids at the nanoscale (Project Heads Bargheer, Matias ;  Henkel, Carsten ;  Müller-Werkmeister, Henrike )
• A02 - Mechanistic studies of plasmon-induced bond cleavage and cross-coupling reactions using SERS and X-ray probing methods (Project Heads Bald, Ilko ;  Lu, Yan ;  van der Veen, Renske )
• A03 - Bond activation and molecular dynamics on metal nanoparticles derived from X-ray spectroscopy (Project Heads Föhlisch, Alexander ;  Gühr, Markus ;  Saalfrank, Peter )
• A04 - Steering chemical reactivity by non-local energy transfer via strong light-matter interaction (Project Heads Henkel, Carsten ;  Koopman, Wouter ;  Müller-Werkmeister, Henrike )
• A05 - Understanding and controlling reactivity under vibrational and electronic strong coupling: Theoretical modelling (Project Heads Anders, Janet ;  Saalfrank, Peter )
• A06 - Controlling chemical reactions by propagating surface plasmon polaritons (Project Heads Bargheer, Matias ;  Busch, Kurt ;  Santer, Svetlana )
• A07 - Light-induced atomic-scale surface reactivity (Project Heads Hoffmann-Vogel, Regina ;  Klamroth, Tillmann )
• B01 - Surface engineering of plasmonic nanoparticles by the selective cleavage of functional linkers – a pathway towards nanoparticles with functional patches (Project Heads Bald, Ilko ;  Böker, Alexander )
• B02 - Two-photon processes and plasmon-induced nitroxide-mediated radical polymerisation (NMP) (Project Heads Kneipp, Janina ;  Schlaad, Helmut )
• B03 - Plasmon-induced RAFT polymerisation as a route to asymmetrically functionalized nanoparticles (Project Heads Bald, Ilko ;  Hartlieb, Matthias )
• B04 - Mechanistic investigation and optimization of plasmon-driven reactions by in-situ analytics and flow chemistry (Project Heads Möller, Heiko ;  Pacholski, Claudia )
• B05 - Mechanisms of photochemical reactions at metallic nanoparticles (Project Heads Hecht, Stefan ;  Titov, Evgenii )
• MGK - Integrated Research Training Group (Project Heads Banerji, Ph.D., Amitabh ;  Henkel, Carsten )
• Z01 - Preparation, characterization and tuning of nanoparticles and tailor-made substrates for plasmonic chemistry (Project Heads Lu, Yan ;  Schmidt, Bernd ;  Taubert, Andreas )
• Z02 - Joint optics lab: Technological development of optical excitation and probing (scientific service project including mobile laser sources, detectors and large-scale facility support) (Project Head Herzog, Marc )
• Z03 - Central Administrative Project (Project Head Bargheer, Matias )
• Z04 - Transfer & Outreach (Project Head Banerji, Ph.D., Amitabh )

• Applicant Institution: Universität Potsdam
• Participating University: Berliner Hochschule für Technik (BHT); Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
• Participating Institution: Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY); Fraunhofer-Institut für Angewandte Polymerforschung (IAP); Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie
• Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Matias Bargheer