Recent Research Highlights 


2019


Light on the Structural Evolution of Photoresponsive Molecular Switches in Electronically Excited States

S. Amirjalayer*, W. J. Buma*, Chem. Eur. J., 2019, DOI: 10.1002/chem.201805810 ("Hot Paper").(*corresponding author)



Understanding the mechanocatalytic conversion of biomass: One‐step reaction mechanism by mechanical force

S. Amirjalayer*, H. Fuchs, D. Marx, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2019, 58, 5232. (*corresponding author)



2018


Quantitative assessment of intermolecular interactions by atomic force microscopy imaging using copper oxide tips

H. Mönig, S. Amirjalayer, A. Timmer, Z. Hu, L. Liu, O. Díaz Arado, M. Cnudde, C. A. Strassert, W. Ji, M. Rohlfing, H. FuchsNature Nanotechnology Advance Online Publication, DOI: 10.1038/s41565-018-0104-4.



Photoinduced Pedalo-Type Motion in an Azodicarboxamide-Based Molecular Switch

S. Amirjalayer*, A. Martinez-Cuezva, J. Berna, S. Woutersen*, W. J. Buma*,  Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2018, 57, 1792. (*corresponding author)



2017


Ballbot-type motion of N-heterocyclic carbenes on gold surfaces

G. Wang, A. Rühling, S. Amirjalayer, M. Knor, J. B. Ernst, H.-J Gao, H.-Y. Gao, C. Richter, N. L. Doltsinis, F. Glorius, H. Fuchs, Nature Chemistry, 2017, 9, 152.



Surface polarity and self-structured nanogrooves collaborative oriented molecular packing for high crystallinity towards efficient charge transport

D. Ji*, X. Xu*, L. Jiang*, S. Amirjalayer*, L. Jiang, Y. Zhen, Y. Zou, Y. Yao, H. Dong, J. Yu, H. Fuchs, W. Hu, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2017, 139, 2734. (*co-first author)



2016


Direct observation of a dark state in the photocycle of a light-driven molecular motor

S. Amirjalayer*, A. Cnossen, W. R. Browne, B. L. Feringa, W. J. Buma, S. Woutersen, J. Phys. Chem. A 2016, 120, 8606. (*corresponding author)



Influence of Pore Dimension on the Host–Guest Interaction in Metal–Organic Frameworks

S. Amirjalayer*, R. Schmid, J. Phys. Chem. C 2016, 120, 27319. (*corresponding author)



An iron-iron hydrogenase mimic with appended electron reservoir for efficient proton reduction in aqueous media

R. Becker, S. Amirjalayer, P. Li, S. Woutersen, J. N.H. Reek, Science Advances 2016, 2, e1501014. 



2015


Fast photodynamics of azobenzene probed by scanning excited-state potential energy surfaces using slow spectroscopy

E. M.M. Tan, S. Amirjalayer, S. Smolarek, A. Vdovin, F. Zerbetto, W. J. Buma, Nature Commun. 2015 , 6:5860.