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School of Physics & Astronomy
 

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Alex Saywell

Principal Research Fellow, Faculty of Science

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Biography

Alex Saywell is a Royal Society University Research Fellow (RS-URF) and holds a proleptic lectureship at the 糖心原创. He has led a research group since 2016, focusing on the highly interdisciplinary area of molecular reactions and interactions on surfaces. His research employs scanning probe microscopies (SPM), including scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM), to characterise the structure and properties of complex functional molecules at surfaces in ultra-high vacuum (UHV) environments. A particular focus is the characterisation of on-surface synthesised 1D and 2D molecular structures and the development of methodologies for producing specific reaction products. His research has been supported by a series of fellowships: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) Eigene Stelle; Marie Curie Intra-European Fellowship; Nottingham Research Fellowship; and his current RS-URF.

Expertise Summary

My research focuses on the interdisciplinary area of on-surface molecular reactions and interactions. Scanning probe microscopy (SPM) techniques allow characterisation on the single-molecule, and even atomic, level. On-surface reactions involving molecular 'building-blocks', possessing specific chemical/physical functionality, facilitates synthesis of low-dimensional materials with novel properties. A challenge is to influence, and control, progress of the reaction and the resultant molecular structures. Over the last years I have developed methodologies, based on anisotropic surface structures and porous molecular templates (nanoscale 'test-tubes') to influence on-surface reactions.

In conjunction with SPM studies, synchrotron-based characterisation provides a complete structural, chemical, and electronic characterisation of the mechanisms underlying the observed on-surface processes. Our focus is on complex molecules/structures: possessing optical/chemical/physical/magnetic functionality. Transfer, and characterisation, of these species to a supporting substrate is a route to nanoscale devices (e.g. catalytic, 'gas-capture', or molecular-electronic materials).

Teaching Summary

Advanced Techniques for Nanoscience Research (PHYS4026 UNUK)

Research Summary

My research is focused upon the investigation of organisation, interaction, and chemistry of nanoscale molecular systems confined to a 2D substrate. Scanning probe techniques allow molecular… read more

Selected Publications

  • EDMONDSON, MATTHEW and SAYWELL, ALEX, 2022. Molecular Diffusion and Self-Assembly: Quantifying the Influence of Substrate hcp and fcc Atomic Stacking NANO LETTERS. 22(20), 8210-8215
  • GOTFREDSEN, HENRIK, DENG, JIE-REN, VAN RADEN, JEFF M., RIGHETTO, MARCELLO, HERGENHAHN, JANKO, CLARKE, MICHAEL, BELLAMY-CARTER, ABIGAIL, HART, JACK, O'SHEA, JAMES, CLARIDGE, TIMOTHY D. W., DUARTE, FERNANDA, SAYWELL, ALEX, HERZ, LAURA M. and ANDERSON, HARRY L., 2022. Bending a photonic wire into a ring NATURE CHEMISTRY. 14(12), 1436-+
  • MAJEWSKI, MARCIN A., STAWSKI, WOJCIECH, VAN RADEN, JEFF M., CLARKE, MICHAEL, HART, JACK, O'SHEA, JAMES N., SAYWELL, ALEX and ANDERSON, HARRY L., 2023. Covalent Template-Directed Synthesis of a Spoked 18-Porphyrin Nanoring ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION.
  • EDMONDSON, MATTHEW, FRAMPTON, ELEANOR S., JUDD, CHRIS J., CHAMPNESS, NEIL R., JONES, ROBERT G. and SAYWELL, ALEX, 2022. Order, disorder, and metalation of tetraphenylporphyrin (2H-TPP) on Au(111) CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS. 58(42), 6247-6250

Current Research

My research is focused upon the investigation of organisation, interaction, and chemistry of nanoscale molecular systems confined to a 2D substrate. Scanning probe techniques allow molecular architectures to be studied both on the single molecule level, with sub-molecular resolution, and as an ensemble formed from homo- or hetero-molecular mixtures. I am interested in studying, and in influencing, the varied chemical and physical interactions present in these systems. These interactions can give rise to self-assembled molecular structures and, by a careful choice of molecular functionalities and surface reactivity, may result in chemical reactions.

Scanning probe techniques, such as STM and AFM, provide the ability to acquire real space images of the molecule/substrate systems either as static structures or as dynamic processes and can provide a wealth of insight into the evolution of on-surface structures. In addition to this global picture of the molecule/substrate system, the STM/AFM probe may be used to investigate the chemical, conformational, and electronic properties of individual molecules or specific chemical groups within a molecule. Knowledge and understanding of such interactions may facilitate the development of new functional materials whose attributes are determined by their nanoscale properties.

  • CLARKE, MICHAEL, BELLAMY-CARTER, ABIGAIL, MALAGRECA, FERDINANDO, HART, JACK, ARGENT, STEPHEN P., O'SHEA, JAMES N., AMABILINO, DAVID B. and SAYWELL, ALEX, 2023. On-surface polymerisation and self-assembly of DPP-based molecular wires MOLECULAR SYSTEMS DESIGN & ENGINEERING. 8(5), 681-689
  • MAJEWSKI, MARCIN A., STAWSKI, WOJCIECH, VAN RADEN, JEFF M., CLARKE, MICHAEL, HART, JACK, O'SHEA, JAMES N., SAYWELL, ALEX and ANDERSON, HARRY L., 2023. Covalent Template-Directed Synthesis of a Spoked 18-Porphyrin Nanoring ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION.
  • KLEIN, BENEDIKT P., STOODLEY, MATTHEW A., EDMONDSON, MATTHEW, ROCHFORD, LUKE A., WALKER, MARC, SATTLER, LARS, WEBER, SEBASTIAN M., HILT, GERHARD, WILLIAMS, LEON B. S., LEE, TIEN-LIN, SAYWELL, ALEX, MAURER, REINHARD J. and DUNCAN, DAVID A., 2022. Using polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons for graphene growth on Cu(111) under ultra-high vacuum APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS. 121(19),
  • EDMONDSON, MATTHEW and SAYWELL, ALEX, 2022. Molecular Diffusion and Self-Assembly: Quantifying the Influence of Substrate hcp and fcc Atomic Stacking NANO LETTERS. 22(20), 8210-8215
  • GOTFREDSEN, HENRIK, DENG, JIE-REN, VAN RADEN, JEFF M., RIGHETTO, MARCELLO, HERGENHAHN, JANKO, CLARKE, MICHAEL, BELLAMY-CARTER, ABIGAIL, HART, JACK, O'SHEA, JAMES, CLARIDGE, TIMOTHY D. W., DUARTE, FERNANDA, SAYWELL, ALEX, HERZ, LAURA M. and ANDERSON, HARRY L., 2022. Bending a photonic wire into a ring NATURE CHEMISTRY. 14(12), 1436-+
  • EDMONDSON, MATTHEW, FRAMPTON, ELEANOR S., JUDD, CHRIS J., CHAMPNESS, NEIL R., JONES, ROBERT G. and SAYWELL, ALEX, 2022. Order, disorder, and metalation of tetraphenylporphyrin (2H-TPP) on Au(111) CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS. 58(42), 6247-6250
  • BELLAMY-CARTER, ABIGAIL, ROCHE, CECILE, ANDERSON, HARRY L. and SAYWELL, ALEX, 2021. Self-assembly of a strapped linear porphyrin oligomer on HOPG SCIENTIFIC REPORTS. 11(1),
  • JARVIS, SAMUEL P., SANG, HONGQIAN, JUNQUEIRA, FILIPE, GORDON, OLIVER, HODGKINSON, JO E. A., SAYWELL, ALEX, RAHE, PHILIPP, MAMONE, SALVATORE, TAYLOR, SIMON, SWEETMAN, ADAM, LEAF, JEREMY, DUNCAN, DAVID A., LEE, TIEN-LIN, THAKUR, PARDEEP K., HOFFMAN, GABRIELLA, WHITBY, RICHARD J., LEVITT, MALCOLM H., HELD, GEORG, KANTOROVICH, LEV, MORIARTY, PHILIP and JONES, ROBERT G., 2021. Chemical shielding of H2O and HF encapsulated inside a C-60 cage COMMUNICATIONS CHEMISTRY. 4(1),
  • JUDD, CHRIS J., JUNQUEIRA, FILIPE L. Q., HADDOW, SARAH L., CHAMPNESS, NEIL R., DUNCAN, DAVID A., JONES, ROBERT G. and SAYWELL, ALEX, 2020. Structural characterisation of molecular conformation and the incorporation of adatoms in an on-surface Ullmann-type reaction COMMUNICATIONS CHEMISTRY. 3(1),
  • JUDD, CHRIS J., NIZOVTSEV, ANTON S., PLOUGMANN, RIKKE, KONDRATUK, DMITRY, V, ANDERSON, HARRY L., BESLEY, ELENA and SAYWELL, ALEX, 2020. Molecular Quantum Rings Formed from a pi-Conjugated Macrocycle PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS. 125(20),
  • SWEETMAN, ADAM, CHAMPNESS, NEIL R. and SAYWELL, ALEX, 2020. On-surface chemical reactions characterised by ultra-high resolution scanning probe microscopy CHEMICAL SOCIETY REVIEWS. 49(13), 4189-4202
  • JUDD, CHRIS J., KONDRATUK, DMITRY, V, ANDERSON, HARRY L. and SAYWELL, ALEX, 2019. On-Surface Synthesis within a Porphyrin Nanoring Template SCIENTIFIC REPORTS. 9,
  • JUDD, CHRIS J., CHAMPNESS, NEIL R. and SAYWELL, ALEX, 2018. CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL. 24(1), 56-61
  • JUDD, CHRIS J., HADDOW, SARAH L., CHAMPNESS, NEIL R. and SAYWELL, ALEX, 2017. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS. 7,
  • AMABILINO, DAVID, BALDEA, IOAN, BATTEAS, JAMES, BETON, PETER, BILBAO, NEREA, COSTANTINI, GIOVANNI, DAVIDSON, JONATHAN, DE FEYTER, STEVEN, FERNANDEZ, YURI DIAZ, ERNST, KARL-HEINZ, HIRSCH, BRANDON, JABBARZADEH, AHMAD, JONES, ROBERT, KUEHNLE, ANGELIKA, LACKINGER, MARKUS, LI, ZHI, LIN, NIAN, LINDEROTH, TROLLE R., MARTSINOVICH, NATALIA, NALBACH, MARTIN, PRADIER, CLAIRE-MARIE, RAHMAN, TALAT, RAVAL, RASMITA, ROBINSON, NEIL, ROSEI, FEDERICO, SACCHI, MARCO, SAMPERI, MARIO, MATIAS, ANA SANZ, SAYWELL, ALEX, SCHWAMINGER, SEBASTIAN and TAIT, STEVEN L., 2017. FARADAY DISCUSSIONS. 204, 503-530
  • SAYWELL, ALEX, BROWNING, ABIGAIL S., RAHE, PHILIPP, ANDERSON, HARRY L. and BETON, PETER H., 2016. Chem. Commun.. -
  • SAYWELL, ALEX, BAKKER, ANNE, MIELKE, JOHANNES, KUMAGAI, TAKASHI, WOLF, MARTIN, GARCIA-LOPEZ, VICTOR, CHIANG, PINN-TSONG, TOUR, JAMES M. and GRILL, LEONHARD, 2016. ACS NANO. 10(12), 10945-10952
  • NACCI, CHRISTOPHE, SAYWELL, ALEX, TROADEC, CEDRIC, DENG, JIE, WILLINGER, MARC GEORG, JOACHIM, CHRISTIAN and GRILL, LEONHARD, 2016. JOURNAL OF VACUUM SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY B. 34(5),
  • JARVIS, S. P., TAYLOR, S., BARAN, J. D., THOMPSON, D., SAYWELL, A., MANGHAM, B., CHAMPNESS, N. R., LARSSON, J. A. and MORIARTY, P., 2015. JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C. 119(50), 27982-27994
  • KONDRATUK, DMITRY V., SPRAFKE, JOHANNES K., O'SULLIVAN, MELANIE C., PERDIGAO, LUIS M. A., SAYWELL, ALEX, MALFOIS, MARC, O'SHEA, JAMES N., BETON, PETER H., THOMPSON, AMBER L. and ANDERSON, HARRY L., 2014. Vernier-Templated Synthesis, Crystal Structure, and Supramolecular Chemistry of a 12-Porphyrin Nanoring CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL. 20(40), 12826-12834
  • SAYWELL, ALEX, GREN, WOJCIECH, FRANC, GREGORY, GOURDON, ANDRE, BOUJU, XAVIER and GRILL, LEONHARD, 2014. JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C. 118(3), 1719-1728
  • SAYWELL, ALEX, SCHWARZ, JUTTA, HECHT, STEFAN and GRILL, LEONHARD, 2012. ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION. 51(21), 5096-5100
  • CHIANG, PINN-TSONG, MIELKE, JOHANNES, GODOY, JAZMIN, GUERRERO, JASON M., ALEMANY, LAWRENCE B., VILLAGOMEZ, CARLOS J., SAYWELL, ALEX, GRILL, LEONHARD and TOUR, JAMES M., 2012. ACS NANO. 6(1), 592-597
  • SAYWELL, A, BRITTON, AJ, TALEB, N, GIMENEZ-LOPEZ, MD, CHAMPNESS, NR, BETON, PH and O'SHEA, JN, 2011. Nanotechnology. 22(7), -
  • O'SULLIVAN, M.C., SPRAFKE, J.K., KONDRATUK, D.V., RINFRAY, C., CLARIDGE, T.D.W., SAYWELL, A., BLUNT, M.O., O'SHEA, J.N., BETON, P.H., MALFOIS, M. and ANDERSON, H.L., 2011. Nature. 469(7328), 72-75
  • PERDIGAO, LUIS M. A. and SAYWELL, ALEX, 2011. REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS. 82(7),
  • SAYWELL, ALEX, BRITTON, ANDREW J., TALEB, NASSIBA, GIMENEZ-LOPEZ, MARIA DEL CARMEN, CHAMPNESS, NEIL R., BETON, PETER H. and O'SHEA, JAMES N., 2011. NANOTECHNOLOGY. 22(7),
  • O'SULLIVAN, MELANIE C., SPRAFKE, JOHANNES K., KONDRATUK, DMITRY V., RINFRAY, CORENTIN, CLARIDGE, TIMOTHY D. W., SAYWELL, ALEX, BLUNT, MATTHEW O., O'SHEA, JAMES N., BETON, PETER H., MALFOIS, MARC and ANDERSON, HARRY L., 2011. Vernier templating and synthesis of a 12-porphyrin nano-ring NATURE. 469(7328), 72-75
  • SAYWELL, A., MAGNANO, G., SATTERLEY, C.J., PERDIG脙O, L.M.A., BRITTON, A.J., TALEB, N., GIM脡NEZ-L脫PEZ, M.D.C., CHAMPNESS, N.R., O'SHEA, J.N. and BETON, P.H., 2010. Nature Communications. 1, 075
  • SAYWELL, A, SPRAFKE, JK, ESDAILE, LJ, BRITTON, AJ, RIENZO, A, ANDERSON, HL, O'SHEA, JN and BETON, PH, 2010. Angewandte Chemie-International Edition. 49(48), 9136-9139
  • POLLARD, ANDREW J., PERKINS, EDWARD W., SMITH, NICHOLAS A., SAYWELL, ALEX, GORETZKI, GUDRUN, PHILLIPS, ANNA G., ARGENT, STEPHEN P., SACHDEV, HERMANN, MUELLER, FRANK, HUEFNER, STEFAN, GSELL, STEFAN, FISCHER, MARTIN, SCHRECK, MATTHIAS, OSTERWALDER, JUERG, GREBER, THOMAS, BERNER, SIMON, CHAMPNESS, NEIL R. and BETON, PETER H., 2010. ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION. 49(10), 1794-1799
  • SAYWELL, ALEX, MAGNANO, GRAZIANO, SATTERLEY, CHRISTOPHER J., PERDIGAO, LUIS M. A., BRITTON, ANDREW J., TALEB, NASSIBA, GIMENEZ-LOPEZ, MARIA DEL CARMEN, CHAMPNESS, NEIL R., O'SHEA, JAMES N. and BETON, PETER H., 2010. NATURE COMMUNICATIONS. 1,
  • SAYWELL, ALEX, SPRAFKE, JOHANNES K., ESDAILE, LOUISA J., BRITTON, ANDREW J., RIENZO, ANNA, ANDERSON, HARRY L., O'SHEA, JAMES N. and BETON, PETER H., 2010. ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION. 49(48), 9136-9139
  • O'SHEA, JN, SAYWELL, A, MAGNANO, G, PERDIGAO, LMA, SATTERLEY, CJ, BETON, PH and DHANAK, VR, 2009. Surface Science. 603(20), 3094-3098
  • MAYOR LC, SAYWELL A, MAGNANO G, SATTERLEY CJ, SCHNADT J and O'SHEA JN, 2009. The Journal of chemical physics. 130(16), 164704
  • O'SHEA, JAMES N., SAYWELL, ALEX, MAGNANO, GRAZIANO, PERDIGAO, LUIS M. A., SATTERLEY, CHRISTOPHER J., BETON, PETER H. and DHANAK, VINOD R., 2009. Adsorption of PTCDI on Au(111): Photoemission and scanning tunnelling microscopy SURFACE SCIENCE. 603(20), 3094-3098
  • MAYOR, LOUISE C., SAYWELL, ALEX, MAGNANO, GRAZIANO, SATTERLEY, CHRISTOPHER J., SCHNADT, JOACHIM and O'SHEA, JAMES N., 2009. JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL PHYSICS. 130(16),
  • ALEX SAYWELL, GRAZIANO MAGNANO, CHRISTOPHER J. SATTERLEY, LU脥S M. A. PERDIG脙O, NEIL R. CHAMPNESS, PETER H. BETON, AND JAMES N. O鈥橲HEA, 2008. Electrospray Deposition of C60 on a Hydrogen-Bonded Supramolecular Network Journal of Physical Chemistry C. 112(20), 7706 - 7709
  • PERDIG脙O, LU脥S M. A., SAYWELL, ALEX, FONTES, GISELLE聽N., STANIEC, PAUL聽A., GORETZKI, GUDRUN, PHILLIPS, ANNA聽G., CHAMPNESS, NEIL聽R. and BETON, PETER聽H., 2008. Chemistry - A European Journal. 14(25), 7600-7607
  • PERDIGAO, LUIS M. A., SAYWELL, ALEX, FONTES, GISELLE N., STANIEC, PAUL A., GORETZKI, GUDRUN, PHILLIPS, ANNA G., CHAMPNESS, NEIL R. and BETON, PETER H., 2008. CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL. 14(25), 7600-7607
  • SAYWELL, ALEX, MAGNANO, GRAZIANO, SATTERLEY, CHRISTOPHER J., PERDIGAO, LUIS M. A., CHAMPNESS, NEIL R., BETON, PETER H. and O'SHEA, JAMES N., 2008. JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C. 112(20), 7706-7709
  • P.A. STANIEC, L.M.A. PERDIG脙O, A. SAYWELL, N.R.CHAMPNESS, P.H. BETON, 2007. ChemPhysChem. 8, 2177-2181
  • SATTERLEY, CHRISTOPHER J., PERDIGAO, LUIS M. A., SAYWELL, ALEX, MAGNANO, GRAZIANO, RIENZO, ANNA, MAYOR, LOUISE C., DHANAK, VINOD R., BETON, PETER H. and O'SHEA, JAMES N., 2007. Nanotechnology. 18(45), 455304-455304
  • STANIEC, PAUL A., PERDIGAO, LUIS M. A., SAYWELL, ALEX, CHAMPNESS, NEIL R. and BETON, PETER H., 2007. CHEMPHYSCHEM. 8(15), 2177-2181
  • SATTERLEY, CHRISTOPHER J., PERDIGAO, LUIS M. A., SAYWELL, ALEX, MAGNANO, GRAZIANO, RIENZO, ANNA, MAYOR, LOUISE C., DHANAK, VINOD R., BETON, PETER H. and O'SHEA, JAMES N., 2007. NANOTECHNOLOGY. 18(45),

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