Mobility and reactivity of porphyrins on metal surfaces

Prof. Hans-Peter Steinrück
(Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany)

Metalloporphyrins are versatile functional building blocks in many biological and biochemical processes. In addition, these molecules are also utilized in technical applications, retaining their highly functional nature within an inorganic framework. Examples include gas sensors, solar cells and catalysts. In this presentation, the surface chemistry of porphyrins on metal and oxide substrates will be addressed. Specific topics are the interplay between porphyrin-substrate and porphyrin-porphyrin interactions, the role of the substrate, surface diffusion, and in particular the synthesis of metalloporphyrin monolayers by direct metalation of free base porphyrins, under UHV conditions and in the liquid phase.