D1) Knowledge and understanding: the student will be able to understand the main aspects of Surface Science and will know the principles of the main experimental techniques applied to the study of the electronic and structural properties of organo-metallic interfaces.

D2) Applying knowledge and understanding: the student will successfully apply the acquired knowledge to the comprehension of the scope of the scientific papers in the field.

D3) Making judgements: the student will be able to make judgements on problems involving the tackled systems and on the possible applications of the main experimental techniques adopted in Surface Science.

D4) Communication skills: the student will acquire the proper communication skills to discuss the basic surface science issues.

D5) Learning skills: the student will be able to deepen autonomously the knowledge of some of the tackled topics by reading scientific papers or textbooks.

Physical Chemistry 2 and knowledge of the basis of thermodynamics.

Introduction to the main experimental techniques and the principal models that enable the description of the interaction between molecules and surfaces. Examples of synthesis of molecules and 2D materials on surfaces.

Notes, papers and presentations uploaded in Moodle
Reference Textbook:
K. W. Kolasinski: Surface Science, available on Wiley website with Units credentials

Introduction to the surface science, technologic and computational developments, scientific scope.

Surfaces and Ultra-High Vacuum requirement. Brief overview of vacuum technology and instrumentation.
Solids crystalline structure, Bravais lattices for 3D and 2D systems. Surface structure determination. Low energy electron diffraction (LEED) technique: implementation and operating principles. The inelastic mean free path of electrons. The reciprocal space. Introduction to the Grazing Incidence Surface X-ray Diffraction. Surfaces morphology: terraces, steps, defects, roughness, reconstructions.
Adsorption process. Sticking coefficient, Langmuir Isotherms, Thermal Desorption Spectroscopy (TDS). Physisorption and Chemisorption. Blyholder model for the CO molecule adsorption. Reactivity of the metal surfaces.
Scanning probe microscopy: introduction to AFM and STM. Scanning tunneling spectroscopy and single molecule conductance.
Formation of complex interfaces. Molecular self-assembly. The alkanethiols case study: electronic and morphologic properties. On-surface synthesis. Ullmann reaction and boronic condensation. Molecular recognition driven by chemical affinity or guest-host shape matching. Graphene on-surface synthesis.
Photon in-electron out techniques. Introduction to the photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) and to Near Edge Absorption (NEXAFS) techniques. The hemispherical electron analyzer. Chemical and morphologic characterization of an organo-metallic interface. Ultra-fast charge delocalization processes: an overview of the Resonant Photoemission technique.
Electronic properties of surfaces and interfaces: Work function, surface states. Energy alignment of the electronic levels at the organo-metallic interfaces. Introduction to the 2 photon photoemission. Exciton creation and splitting. Organic photovoltaic cells. Singlet fission process.

Classroom lectures will be given with support of Powerpoint presentation. Some scientific papers tackling the topics of the program will be commented in detail. Variations with respect to the described procedures and methods could be applied due to emergencies issues and will be notified in the website of the Department and in the Students Information section.

Oral exam. The aim is to verify the ability of the candidate to discuss the general aspects of Surface science, regarding both the experimental techniques and the scientific scope. The discussion will be on a scientific paper assigned to the candidate 7-10 days in advance. During the discussion, also topics of the program will be tackled, not directly related to the paper.
The exam score is assigned out of thirty. To pass the exam (18/30), the student must demonstrate an understanding of the main results described in the article and the principles underlying the experimental techniques used. To achieve the maximum score (30/30), the student must also demonstrate a thorough understanding of the models and techniques described during the course and not used in the discussed article.
Variations with respect to the described procedures and methods could be applied due to emergencies issues and will be notified in the website of the Department and in the Students Information section.