ESiM Project News

ESiM is pleased to announce the addition of RUG and UPC to its consortium partners. The European Commission has confirmed the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) in Barcelona, Spain, and the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) in Germany as new participants in the ESiM project. Sabine Maier and Meike Stöhr from FAU, both esteemed experts in scanning probe microscopy and the investigation of low-dimensional molecular arrangements on surfaces, will assume the responsibilities previously held by Rijksuniversiteit Groningen (RUG).

Meanwhile, UPC will enhance the molecular synthesis efforts of the Institute of Materials Science of Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC), thereby reinforcing the involvement of ESiM's experienced Principal Investigator, Kasper Moth-Poulsen, who has dual affiliations. The entire ESiM consortium eagerly anticipates fruitful collaboration with these prestigious institutions and extends a warm welcome to the new Principal Investigators!

On June 30, 2023, from 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM, the TUD Dresden partner opened its state-of-the-art laboratory in the Barkhausen building to the public as part of the Long Night of Science 2023 in Dresden. This annual event, a tradition in Dresden since its inception in 2003, aims to bring science and research closer to the public by offering a behind-the-scenes look at various scientific institutions and their work.

Overall, the Long Night of Science 2023 saw a remarkable turnout, attracting over 30,000 visitors across the city. The event featured a wide range of activities and presentations from numerous research facilities, universities, and institutions, all dedicated to fostering a greater understanding and appreciation of scientific endeavors.

During this special evening at the Barkhausen building, the focus was on demonstrating the working principles of scanning tunneling microscopy and showcasing the activities of the ESiM (Energy Storage in Molecules) project. Visitors, including school children from Dresden, university students, and adults, were given the unique opportunity to learn about cutting-edge research focused on storing energy at the molecular level. The demonstrations and interactive sessions provided valuable insights into the intricate processes and advanced technologies employed in this groundbreaking field.

The Long Night of Science not only aims to educate and inspire the public but also seeks to spark interest in scientific careers among young people and to highlight the critical role of research and innovation in addressing global challenges. The event successfully bridges the gap between the scientific community and the public, fostering a culture of curiosity and lifelong learning.

A collaboration between 4 ESiM partners (TU Dresden, IPF Dresden, CNRS Toulouse, CSIC San Sebastian) has shown that a zwitterionic single-molecule machine can work in two different ways under bias voltage pulses. It is a unidirectional rotor while anchored on the surface. It is a fast drivable molecule vehicle (nanocar) while physisorbed.

In the same experimental conditions, the ESIM partners investigated the inelastic tunneling excitation producing the movement for both the unidirectional rotation of the rotor and the directed movement of the nanocar. The work represents an important step towards the realization of single-molecule machines, converting electrical energy in selected movement.

The work is published in ACS Nano as Article ASAP, DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c12128

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsnano.2c12128

From Wednesday, June 22, until today, collaborators of the ESiM Project (Energy Storage in Molecules) convened in Dresden for their inaugural meeting. Project partners from Germany, Spain, France, and The Netherlands showcased their individual work packages and outlined the roadmap for the 4-year initiative.

Led by Dr. Francesca Moresco of the cfaed SMM Group, the European Pathfinder Open project ESiM aims to harness intramolecular properties, such as rotations and conformational changes, for energy storage. ESiM focuses on storing and releasing energy within specific intramolecular degrees of freedom. The project integrates theory and simulation, molecular design and synthesis, scanning probe microscopy and manipulation, solid-state physics, and nanotechnology.