Dr. Christian Wagner heads an ERC research group at the Peter Grünberg Institute – Functional Nanostructures at Surfaces
“I want to make molecules visible – while moving them. This is not yet possible. My approach uses a scanning probe microscope whose extremely delicate tip I can use to move or raise individual molecules. I then measure the force that is exerted between molecule and tip. Using these data, the three-dimensional shape and position of the molecule can be made visible. Only by knowing what a molecule looks like and how it reacts during such a manipulation can I control it in a targeted manner and use it as a molecular building block, for example as a switch. My vision is to develop an electric motor made up of individual molecules.”
