Surface Molecular Science Research Division

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Real-time Vibrational Spectroscopic Monitoring and Control of Reaction Dynamics at the Solid/Liquid Interface

Professor (Concurrent post) Kiyotaka ASAKURA Associate Professor Shen YE

Our main interest lies in reactions that take place at solid/liquid, solid/gas, and solid/solid interfaces. IR spectroscopy, sum frequency generation (SFG), scanning probe microscopy (STM, AFM), laser spectroscopy, and electrochemical techniques have been combined in order to understand the reactions on a molecular scale. Surface-enhanced IR (SEIRAS) developed in our laboratory enables fast time-resolved reaction monitoring. The main subjects are (1) dynamics of molecular adsorption at the electro-chemical interface, (2) electrode kinetics and dynamics, (3) mechanism of electro-catalysis for fuel cells, (4) self-assembly of ultra-thin organic and inorganic films and its applications, (5) structural analysis of ultrathin organic films and interfaces by SGF, and (6) hydrogen bonding at bio-polymer surfaces and bio-compatibility.