The final meeting of the proposed DFG Research Unit 5751 and scientists from Fraunhofer ENAS took place on May 14 at IOM. The Research Unit brings together an interdisciplinary team of researchers from the Leibniz Institute of Surface Engineering (IOM), Leipzig University, Chemnitz University of Technology, and Technical University of Applied Sciences Wildau to strengthen the future-oriented German semiconductor capability by augmenting it with molecular technologies. Participating institutions will establish a wide range of new complementary knowledge and expertise, from synthetic inorganic chemistry and spatially controlled molecular deposition to modification of tailor-made surfaces, responsive materials interfaces, and computer-assisted device modeling.

“This is a great initiative for the entire molecular electronics and memristor community. Our goal is to develop groundbreaking methods for integrating qualified single molecules and 2D molecular layers into technical electrode environments. The research and development will be performed in close cooperation within the unique scientific ecosystem of cross-border cooperation between Saxony and Brandenburg.” – says the spokesman of the Research Unit, Dr. Kirill Monakhov, head of the "Switchable molecularly functionalized surfaces" working group at the IOM.

Participating research areas of the IOM:
Switchable molecularly functionalized surfaces
Ion beam assisted patterning and smoothing
Plasma-assisted deposition of thin films