We study the surface chemistry of organic species on catalysts, model catalysts,and electronic materials. We explore how catalyst reactivity trends are controlled by the molecular structures and molecular orientations of species at the surface. In particular, we focus on heterogeneous catalysis of liquid hydrocarbons and proton coupled electron transfer reactions on carbon substrates. We also investigate the ordering of organic molecules at buried interfaces, such as within organic thin film transistors, to yield enhanced device performances.

Selected Publications:

“Partially (resp. fully) reversible adsorption of monoterpenes (resp. alkanes and cycloalkanes) to fused silica”
Y Liu, HM Chase, FM Geiger
J. Chem. Phys. 150, 074701 (2019), Featured Article

“Beyond Local Group Modes in Vibrational Sum Frequency Generation”
Hilary Chase, Brian T. Psciuk, Benjamin F. Strick, Regan J. Thomson, Victor S. Batista, and Franz M. Geiger
J. Phys. Chem. A, 119, 3407-3414 (2015)

“Displacement of Hexanol by the Hexanoic Acid Overoxidation Product at Supported Palladium Nanoparticles under Cyclohexane Solution”
Avram M. Buchbinder, Natalie A. Ray, Junling Lu, Richard P. Van Duyne, Peter C. Stair, Eric Weitz, and Franz M. Geiger
J. Am. Chem. Soc., 133, 17816-17823 (2011)