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Rémy Pawlak

Senior Scientist at the University of Basel

   

About me

My name is Rémy Pawlak, senior scientist at the University of Basel (Switzerland). I am from Marseille, southern France, where I studied Physics. I received my bachelor's degree in 2004, and my master's degree in 2006 in Physics, microelectronics and nanosciences from the University Paul Cézanne with a special focus on experimental physics in ultra-high vacuum conditions. In 2009, I obtained a PhD in Physics from the Aix-Marseille University for my work on two-dimensional assembly and polymerization of organic molecules at surfaces characterized by scanning probe microscopy.

In 2010, I joined the group of Prof. E. Meyer at the University of Basel as a post-doc fellow where I develop, maintain and operate a low temperature atomic force microscope (AFM) and scanning tunneling microscope (STM). My research focuses on low temperature physics, on-surface chemistry, material sciences, single-molecule and quantum materials at the atomic scale. My main expertises are the imaging of atomic structures and single molecules at surfaces using STM/AFM with functionalized tips, atomic manipulations, detection of force in molecular and quantum systems.


80+
Published Papers
30+
h-Index
30+
Invited Talks
100+
International Conferences

Research

Designing low-dimensional quantum materials


Microscope
Flat bands observed in Kagome graphene using scanning probe microscopy.

Published in Angewandte Chemie Int.

Accurate synthesis and engineering of novel quantum materials have become the frontiers of condensed matter physics, which might give rise to unconventional electronic properties and future applications in quantum technologies. Since a paramount in quantum materials research is to understanding how new quantum phenomena can emerge from the topology of electronic wave-functions or correlations arising from electron-electron interactions, a direct observation of their atomic structure and electronic wavefunctions is mandatory at the fundamental scale. With this prospect, my research interests not only focus on the synthesis of nanomaterials, but also on harnessing the power of high-resolution scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and atomic force microscope (AFM) techniques in cryogenic environment. Indeed, only these techniques enables the correlation between structure and electronic properties at the atomic scale, information that is impossible to obtain using conventional macroscopic averaging techniques typically used in surface science.

R. Pawlak et al. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 60, 8370-8375 (2021)
S. Kawai et al. Science 351 957-961 (2016)


Scanning probe microscopy and ultra high vaccum instrumentation

These past years as a student or researcher, I worked on ultra-high vacuum (UHV) apparatus to charaterize surfaces at the atomic scale. I developped strong skills in scanning tunneling microsope (STM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) performed in cryogenic conditions (5K). Atomic force microscopy based on a tuning fork sensor in the qPlus configuration operated in the non-contact mode using a phase lock loop (PLL), together with typical STM characterizations (topographic imaging in the constant-current mode or scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS)). Part of my work consists in preparing samples in such atomically cleaned conditions (typically Cu(111), large band-gap semiconductors (TiO2, SrTio3) or superconductors (NbSe2, Pb(110), Pb(111)). Molecule and atoms are evaporated from a quartz crucible installed in the preparation chamber on substrates kept at temperatures from 10 K to 1000 K.

Microscope
Microscope head showing the tuning fork holder mounted on the piezoscanner.


Bond imaging of molecules and atomic structures

Nanodragster
AFM image with a CO-terminated tip of a tolyl-terpy molecule on Au(111).

One of my main research is the acquisition of highly resolved AFM images with functionalized tips enabling unprecedented resolution of molecule structures. Such AFM experiments is possible thank to the small amplitudes of tuning fork sensors operated at low temperature. In such conditions, a single carbon monoxide (CO) molecule can be attached to the the very end of the AFM tip, which drastically enhances the image contrast by probing Pauli repulsive force between tip and sample (Gross, Science 325, 1110 (2009)). Such real-space investigations can adress various on-surface chemical reactions allowing an unambiguous visualization of the atom/molecule organizations, chemical reaction and their biproducts.

R. Pawlak et al. J. Phys. Chem. C, (2022)
R. Pawlak et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 142 12568–12573 (2020)


Force and current spectroscopy at the atomic scale

Beside imaging surfaces, I have a long-standing experience in developping advanced force and current spectroscopic methods, to give new insights into the mechanical, structural and electronic properties of single molecules at the atomic scale. Scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS) acquired using the standard lock-in technique helps determining the local electronic density of states (LDOS) of various samples down to the atomic scale. While investigating single molecules, this technique enables the determination of the Highest Occupied Molecular Orbitals (HOMO), Lowest Unoccupied Molecular Orbitals (LUMO) and band gaps.

Force spectroscopy is obtained by measuring interaction forces betwen tip and sample in the non-contact mode. This is done by detecting the frequency shift variations, Δf, compared to the resonance frequency of the oscillator. I focused on building three-dimensional force field above single-molecules using atom-tracked positioning. Based on either Δf(z) or Δf(V) spectroscopic curves, this technique is routinely employed to determine the mechanical properties of molecules as well as their charge distribution at the sub-molecular scale.

R. Pawlak et al. NC-AFM book chaper
R. Pawlak et al. PNAS, 117, 228-237 (2020)

Nanodragster
Schematic of force and current grid-spectroscopy used to investigate mechanics, density of states etc.

Single-molecule manipulation

Pulling, sliding, stretching a single molecule, repositionning single atoms to build atomic structures on a surface. Single-molecule manipulation experiments can be achieved with an STM/AFM at low temperature enabling the investigation of the mechanical counter-reactions of a single molecule under a stress or en electrical field, and this well-below the effect of thermal fluctuations. In such experiments, the aim is to develop methods to engineer matter down to the atomic scale. The movie shown here is composed of 28 STM images showing the displacement at 4.5 K of a single molecule on Au(111). The translation is propelled by an electrical current injected from the tip.

R. Pawlak et al. Nat. Comm. 10, 685 (2019)
R. Pawlak et al. Nano Lett. 20 652-657 (2020)
R. Pawlak and T. Meier. Nat. Nanotechnol. 12, 712-712 (2017)


Probing molecular spins at superconducting surfaces

The interaction of localized spins of atoms or molecules with a metallic substrate leads to the screening by the itinerant conduction electrons. In tunneling spectra, the signature of this coupling is observed as a Kondo-resonance at zero energy or spin-flip excitations. We detect this feature arising from localized magnetic moment in single molecules and molecular structures with dI/dV spectroscopy. On superconductor, local magnetic moments interact with the Cooper pairs of the superconducting condensate. This gives rise to the so-called Yu-Shiba-Rusinov (YSR) states, which emerge as sub-gap states inside the superconducting gap and reflect the interaction strength with the substrate. Using a STM operated at 1K, we now explore the spectral fingerprint of these molecular spins.

R. Pawlak et al. Arxiv (2024)
J.-C. Liu, et al. ACS Mater. Lett., 5, 1083-1090 (2023)
C. Li, et al. Arxiv (2024)

Nanodragster
dI/dV spectra of the supercondcuting gap of Pb(111) probed with a superconducting Pb tip

Publications


Selected publications

  1. C. Li, C. Kaspar, P. Zhou, J.-C. Liu, O. Chahib, T. Glatzel, R. Häner, U. Aschauer, S. Decurtins, S.-X. Liu, M. Thoss, E. Meyer, R. Pawlak. Strong signature of electron-vibration coupling in molecules on Ag (111) triggered by tip-gated discharging. Nat. Comm. 14, 5956 (2023). ▸read

  2. R. Pawlak, X. Liu, S. Ninova, P. D’Astolfo, C. Drechsel, S. Sangtarash, R. Häner, S. Decurtins, H. Sadeghi, C. J. Lambert, U. Aschauer, S.-X. Liu, E. Meyer. Bottom-up Synthesis of Nitrogen-Doped Porous Graphene Nanoribbons. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 142 12568–12573 (2020). ▸read

  3. R. Pawlak, C. Drechsel, P. D’Astolfo, M. Kisiel, E. Meyer, J. I. Cerda. Quantitative determination of atomic buckling of silicene by atomic force microscopy. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 117, 228-237 (2020). ▸read

  4. R. Pawlak, J.G. Vilhena, P. D'Astolfo, X. Liu, G. Prampolini, T. Meier, T. Glatzel, J.A. Lemkul, R. Haner, S. Decurtins, A. Baratoff, R. Perez, S.-X. Liu, E. Meyer. Sequential Bending and Twisting around C-C Single Bonds by Mechanical Lifting of a Pre-Adsorbed Polymer. Nano Lett. 20 652-657 (2020). ▸read

  5. R. Pawlak, J.G. Vilhena, A. Hinaut, T. Meier, Th. Glatzel, A. Baratoff, E. Gnecco, R. Perez and E. Meyer. Conformations and cryo-force spectroscopy of spray-deposited single-strand DNA on gold. Nat. Comm. 10, 685 (2019). ▸read

  6. R. Pawlak and T. Meier. Fast and Curious. Nat. Nanotechnol. 12, 712-712 (2017). ▸read

  7. R. Pawlak, M. Kisiel, J. Klinovaja, T. Meier, S. Kawai, Th. Glatzel, D. Loss and E. Meyer. Probing Atomic Structure and Majorana Wavefunctions in Mono-Atomic Fe-chains on Superconducting Pb-Surface. npj Quantum Info 2, 16035 (2016). ▸read

  8. M. Langer, M. Kisiel, R. Pawlak, F. Pelligrini, G. E. Santoro, R. Buzio, A. Gerbi, G. Balakrishnan, A. Baratoff, E. Tosatti and E. Meyer. Giant frictional dissipation peaks and charge-density-wave slips at the NbSe2 surface. Nat. Mater. 13(11), 173-177 (2014). ▸read

  9. S. Kawai, A. Benassi, E. Gnecco, H. Söde, R. Pawlak, X. Feng, K. Müllen, D. Passerone, C. A. Pignedoli, P. Ruffieux, R. Fasel and E. Meyer. Superlubricity of graphene nanoribbons on gold surfaces. Science 351 957-961 (2016). ▸read

  10. N. A. A. Zwaneveld, R. Pawlak, M. Abel, D. Catalin, D. Gigmes, D. Bertin and L. Porte. Organized Formation of 2D Extended Covalent Organic Frameworks at Surfaces. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 130(21), 6678-6679 (2008). ▸read

List of all publications per year

Over the past years I published more than 80 peer-reviewed papers in scientifc journals. Click on the year to see the corresponding publications.

×
  1. R. Pawlak, J.-C. Liu, C. Li, R. Hess, H. Chen, C. Drechsel, P. Zhou, R. Häner, U. Aschauer, T. Glatzel, S. Decurtins, D. Loss, J. Klinovaja, S.-X. Liu, W. Wulfhekel, E. Meyer Arxiv (2024). ▸read

  2. C. Li, V. Pokorný, M. Žonda, J.-C. Liu, P. Zhou, O. Chahib, T. Glatzel, R. Häner, S. Decurtins, S.-X. Liu, R. Pawlak, E. Meyer Arxiv (2024). ▸read

  3. O. Chahib, Y. Yin, J.-C. Liu, C. Li, T. Glatzel, F. Ding, Q. Yuan, E. Meyer, R. Pawlak. Probing charge redistribution at the interface of self-assembled cyclo-P5 pentamers on Ag(111) Nat Comm., 15, 6542 (2024). ▸read

  4. O. Hod, Y. Song, X. Gao, R. Pawlak, S. Huang, A. Hinaut, T. Glatzel, M. Urbakh, E. Meyer. Non-Amontons Frictional Behaviors of Grain Boundaries at Layered Material Interfaces. (2024). ▸read

  5. O. Gutiérrez-Varela, Rémy Pawlak, G. Prampolini, E. Meyer, J.G. Vilhena. Molecular Tribology: Chemically Engineering Energy Dissipation at the Nanoscale. Fundamentals of Friction and Wear on the Nanoscale, 117-158 (2024). ▸read

  6. E. Meyer, R. Pawlak, T. Glatzel. Scanning probe microscopy. Encyclopedia of Condensed Matter Physics, 4, 51-62 (2024). ▸read

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  1. C. Li, C. Kaspar, P. Zhou, J.-C. Liu, O. Chahib, T. Glatzel, R. Häner, U. Aschauer, S. Decurtins, S.-X. Liu, M. Thoss, E. Meyer, R. Pawlak. Strong signature of electron-vibration coupling in molecules on Ag (111) triggered by tip-gated discharging. Nat Comm., 14, 5956 (2023). ▸read

  2. K Regős, R. Pawlak, X. Wang, E. Meyer, S. Decurtins, G. Domokos, K. S. Novoselov, S.-X. Liu, U. Aschauer. Polygonal tessellations as predictive models of molecular monolayers. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 120 e2300049120 (2023). ▸read

  3. J.-C. Liu, R. Pawlak, X. Wang, P. D'Astolfo, C. Drechsel, P. Zhou, S. Decurtins, U. Aschaeur, S.-X. Liu, W. Wulfhekel, E. Meyer. Proximity-Induced Superconductivity in Atomically Precise Nanographene. ACS Mater. Lett., 5, 1083-1090 (2023). ▸read

  4. X. Yao, H. Zhang, F. Kong, A. Hinaut, R. Pawlak, M. Okuno, R. Graf, P. N. Horton, S. J. Coles, E. Meyer, L. Bogani, M. Bonn, H. I. Wang, K. Müllen, A. Narita. N= 8 Armchair Graphene Nanoribbons: Solution Synthesis and High Charge Carrier Mobility. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., e202312610 (2023). ▸read

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  1. R. Pawlak, K. N. Anindya, T. Shimizu, J.-C. Liu, T. Sakamaki, R. Shang, A. Rochefort, E. Nakamura, E. Meyer. Atomically Precise Incorporation of BN-Doped Rubicene into Graphene Nanoribbons. J. Phys. Chem. C, (2022). ▸read

  2. L. Giovanelli, R. Pawlak, F. Hussein, O. MacLean, F. Rosei, W. Song, C. Pigot, F. Dumur, D. Gigmes, Y. Ksari, F. Bondino, E. Magnano, E. Meyer, S. Clair. On‐Surface Synthesis of Unsaturated Hydrocarbon Chains through C− S Activation. Chem. A Eur. Jour., 28, 47 (2022). ▸read

  3. J. G. Vilhena, R. Pawlak, P. D’Astolfo, X. Liu, E. Gnecco, M. Kisiel, T. Glatzel, R. Pérez, R. Häner, S. Decurtins, A. Baratoff, G. Prampolini, S.-X. Liu, E. Meyer. Flexible superlubricity unveiled in sidewinding motion of individual polymeric chains. Phys Rev. Lett. 128, 216102 (2022). ▸read

  4. C. Drechsel, Philipp D’Astolfo, Jung-Ching Liu, Thilo Glatzel, R. Pawlak, Ernst Meyer. Topographic signatures and manipulations of Fe atoms, CO molecules and NaCl islands on superconducting Pb(111). Beilstein J. Nanotechnology, 13, 1-9 (2022). ▸read

  5. Y. Song, A. Hinaut, S. Scherb, Y. Pellmont, R. Pawlak, S. Huang, Z. Liu, T. Glatzel, E. Meyer. Observation of robust superlubricity of MoS2 on Au (111) in ultrahigh vacuum. Appl. Surf. Sci., 601, 154230 (2022). ▸read

  6. S. Kawai, A. Ishikawa, S.-I. Ishida, T. Yamakado, Y. Ma, K. Sun, Y. Tateyama, R. Pawlak, E. Meyer, S. Saito, A. Osuka. On‐Surface Synthesis of Porphyrin‐Complex Multi‐Block Co‐Oligomers by Defluorinative Coupling. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 134, e202114697 (2022). ▸read

  7. P. D’Astolfo, X. Wang, X. Liu, M. Kisiel, C. Drechsel, A. Baratoff, U. Aschauer, S. Decurtins, S.-X. Liu, R. Pawlak, E. Meyer. Energy Dissipation from Confined States in Nanoporous Molecular Networks. ACS Nano 16, 16314-16321 (2022). ▸read
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  1. R. Pawlak, X. Liu, S. Ninova, P. D'astolfo, C. Drechsel, J.-C. Liu, R. Häner, S. Decurtins, U. Aschauer, S.-X. Liu, E. Meyer. On‐Surface Synthesis of Nitrogen‐Doped Kagome Graphene. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 60, 8370-8375 (2021). ▸read

  2. E. Gnecco, R. Pawlak, T. Glatzel, E. Meyer. Atomic-scale investigations of ultralow friction on crystal surfaces in ultrahigh vacuum. Book chapter in Superlubricity, 71-84 (2021). ▸read

  3. K. Sun, K. Sagisaka, L. Peng, H. Watanabe, F. Xu R. Pawlak, E. Meyer, Y. Okuda, A. Orita, S. Kawai. Head‐to‐Tail Oligomerization by Silylene‐tethered Sonogashira Coupling on Ag(111). Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 133, 19750-19755 (2021). ▸read
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  1. R. Pawlak, E. Meyer. Atomic buckling in silicene determined with sub-Ångstrom precision by atomic force microscopy. SPG Mitteilungen, Progress in Physics, (2020). ▸read

  2. R. Pawlak, X. Liu, S. Ninova, P. D’Astolfo, C. Drechsel, S. Sangtarash, R. Häner, S. Decurtins, H. Sadeghi, C. J. Lambert, U. Aschauer, S.-X. Liu, E. Meyer. Bottom-up Synthesis of Nitrogen-Doped Porous Graphene Nanoribbons. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 142(29), 12568–12573 (2020). ▸read

  3. R. Pawlak, C. Drechsel, P. D’Astolfo, M. Kisiel, E. Meyer, J. I. Cerda. Quantitative determination of atomic buckling of silicene by atomic force microscopy. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences , 117, 228-237 (2020). ▸read

  4. R. Pawlak, J.G. Vilhena, P. D'Astolfo, X. Liu, G. Prampolini, T. Meier, T. Glatzel, J.A. Lemkul, R. Haner, S. Decurtins, A. Baratoff, R. Perez, S.-X. Liu, E. Meyer. Sequential Bending and Twisting around C-C Single Bonds by Mechanical Lifting of a Pre-Adsorbed Polymer. Nano Lett., 20, 652-657 (2020). ▸read

  5. S. Scherb, A. Hinaut, R. Pawlak, J.G. Vilhena, Y. Liu, S. Freund, Z. Liu, X. Feng, K. Müllen, T. Glatzel, A. Narita, E. Meyer. Giant thermal expansion of a two-dimensional supramolecular network triggered by alkyl chain motion. Comm. Materials , 1, 8 (2020). ▸read

  6. S. Kawai, O. Krejčí, T. Nishiuchi, K. Sahara, T. Kodama, R. Pawlak, E. Meyer, T. Kubo, A.S. Foster. Three-dimensional graphene nanoribbons as a framework for molecular assembly and local probe chemistry. Sci. Adv. , 6, eaay8913 (2020). ▸read
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  1. R. Pawlak, J.G. Vilhena, A. Hinaut, T. Meier, Th. Glatzel, A. Baratoff, E. Gnecco, R. Perez and E. Meyer. Conformations and cryo-force spectroscopy of spray-deposited single-strand DNA on gold. Nat. Comm., 10, 685 (2019). ▸read

  2. M. Schulzendorf, A. Hinaut, M. Kisiel, R. Jöhr, R. Pawlak, P. Restuccia, E. Meyer, M. Clelia Righi, Th. Glatzel. Altering the Properties of Graphene on Cu(111) by Intercalation of Potassium Bromide. ACS Nano, 13, 5485-5492 (2019). ▸read

  3. R. Pawlak, S. Hoffmann, J. Klinovaja, D. Loss, E. Meyer. Majorana Fermions in Magnetic Chains. Prog. Part. and Nucl. Phys., 107, 1-19, (2019). ▸read

  4. R. Pawlak, J.G. Vilhena, Th. Glatzel and E. Meyer. Stretching DNA using cryo-force spectroscopy. Imaging & Microscopy , 2, 32-34 (2019). ▸read

  5. S. Fremy-Koch, A. Sadeghi, R. Pawlak, S. Kawai, A. Baratoff, S. Goedecker, E. Meyer, and Th. Glatzel. Controlled switching of a single CuPc molecule on Cu(111) at low temperature. Phys. Rev. B, 100, 155427 (2019). ▸read
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  1. S. Freund, R. Pawlak, L. Moser, A. Hinaut, R. Steiner, N. Marinakis, E. C. Constable, E. Meyer, C.E. Housecroft and Th. Glatzel Transoid-to-Cisoid Conformation Changes of Single Molecules on Surfaces Triggered by Metal Coordination. ACS Nano., 3(10), 12851-12856 (2018). ▸read

  2. A.Hinaut, T. Meier, R. Pawlak, S. Freund, R. Jöhr, S. Kawai, T. Glatzel, S. Decurtins, K. Müllen, A. Narita, S.-X. Liu and E. Meyer. Electrospray deposition of structurally complex molecules revealed by atomic force microscopy. Nanoscale, 10(3), 1337-1344 (2018). ▸read

  3. J.G. Vilhena, E. Gnecco, R. Pawlak, F. Moreno-Herrero, E. Meyer and Ruben Perez. Stick-Slip Motion of ssDNA over Graphene. J. Phys. Chem. B, 122(2), 840-846 (2018). ▸read

  4. M. Kisiel, O. O Brovko, D. Yildiz, R. Pawlak, Urs Gysin, Erio Tosatti, Ernst Meyer. Mechanical dissipation from charge and spin transitions in oxygen-deficient SrTiO3 surfaces. Nat. Comm, 9, 1-7 (2018). ▸read

  5. S. Kawai, S. Nakatsuka, T. Hatakeyama, R. Pawlak, T. Meier, J. Tracey, E. Meyer and A.S. Foster. Multiple heteroatom substitution to graphene nanoribbon. Science advances, 4, 7181 (2018). ▸read

  6. A. Vanossi,D. Dietzel, A. Schirmeisen,E. Meyer, R. Pawlak,Th. Glatzel, M. Kisiel, S. Kawai and N. Manini. Recent highlights in nanoscale and mesoscale friction. BJ Nano., 9, 1995-2014 (2018). ▸read

  7. S. Kawai, O. Krejci, A. S. Foster, R. Pawlak, F. Xu, L. Peng, A. Orita and E. Meyer. Diacetylene Linked Anthracene Oligomers Synthesized by One-Shot Homocoupling of Trimethylsilyl on Cu(111). ACS Nano., 12(8), 8791-8797 (2018). ▸read

  8. L. Gigli, S. Kawai, R. Guerra, N. Manini, R. Pawlak, X. Feng, K. Müllen, P. Ruffieux, R. Fasel, E. Tosatti, E. Meyer, A. Vanossi. Detachment Dynamics of Graphene Nanoribbons on Gold. ACS Nano., 13, 689-697 (2018). ▸read

  9. I. Piquero-Zulaica, J. Lobo-Checa, A. Sadeghi, ZM Abd El-Fattah, C. Mitsui, T. Okamoto, R. Pawlak, T. Meier, A. Arnau, J E. Ortega, J. Takeya, S. Goedecker, E. Meyer, S. Kawai. Precise engineering of quantum dot array coupling through their barrier widths. Nat. Comm., 8, 1-6 (2018). ▸read
×
  1. R. Pawlak, S. Kawai, T. Meier, Th. Glatzel, A. Baratoff and E. Meyer. Single-molecule manipulation experiments to explore friction and adhesion. J. Phys. D: App. Phys. , 50 113003 (2017). ▸read

  2. R. Pawlak, A. Sadeghi, R. Jöhr, A. Hinaut, T. Meier, S. Kawai, L. Zajac, P. Olszowski, S. Godlewski, B. Such, Th. Glatzel, S. Goedecker, M. Szymonski and E. Meyer. Hydroxyl-Induced Partial Charge States of Single Porphyrins on Titania Rutile. J. Phys. Chem. C, 121, 3607-3614 (2017). ▸read

  3. E. Gnecco, R. Pawlak, M. Kisiel, Th. Glatzel and E. Meyer. Atomic scale friction phenomena. In: "Handbook of Nanotechnology", (Springer), 519-548 (2017). ▸read

  4. R. Jöhr, A. Hinaut, R. Pawlak, L. Zajac, P. Olszowski, B. Such, Th. Glatzel, J. Zhang, M. Muntwiler, J. J. Bergkamp, L.-M. Mateo, S. Decurtins, S.-X. Liu, and E. Meyer. Thermally induced anchoring of a zinc-carboxyphenylporphyrin on rutile TiO2 (110). J. Chem. C , 146(18), 184704 (2017). ▸read

  5. T. Meier, R. Pawlak, S. Kawai, Y. Geng, X. Liu, S. Decurtins, P. Hapala, A. Baratoff, S.-X. Liu, P. Jelinek, E. Meyer and Th. Glatzel. Donor-Acceptor Properties of a Single-Molecule Altered by On-Surface Complex Formation. ACS Nano , 11, 18413-8420 (2017). ▸read

  6. R. Pawlak, T. Meier, N. Renaud, M. Kisiel, A. Hinaut, T. Glatzel, D. Sordes, C. Durand, W.-H. Soe, A. Baratoff, C. Joachim, C. E. Housecroft, E. C. Constable and Ernst Meyer. Design and Characterization of an Electrically Powered Single Molecule on Gold. ACS Nano , 11, 9930-9940 (2017). ▸read

  7. R. Pawlak and T. Meier. Fast and Curious. Nat. Nanotechnol. , 12, 712-712 (2017). ▸read

  8. S. Kawai, T. Nishiuchi, T. Kodama, P. Spijker, R. Pawlak, T. Meier, J. Tracey, T. Kubo, E. Meyer and A. S. Foster. Direct quantitative measurement of the C=O...H-C bond by atomic force microscopy Science Advance , 3(5), e1603258 (2017). ▸read

  9. E. Gnecco, R. Pawlak, M. Kisiel, Th. Glatzel and E. Meyer. Atomic Scale Friction Phenomena. In: "Bhushan B. (eds) Nanotribology and Nanomechanics.", (Spring), 519-548 (2017). ▸read

  10. P. Olszowski, L. Zajac, S. Godlewski, B. Such, R. Pawlak, A. Hinaut, R. Johr, T. Glatzel, E. Meyer and M. Szymonski. Ordering of Zn-centered porphyrin and phthalocyanine on TiO2 (011): STM studies. BJ Nano. , 8, 99 (2017). ▸read

  11. I. Piquero-Zulaica, J. Lobo-Checa, A. Sadeghi, Z. M. Abd El-Fattah, C. Mitsui, T. Okamoto, R. Pawlak, T. Meier, A. Arnau, J. Enrique Ortega, J. Takeya, S. Goedecker, E. Meyer and S. Kawai. Ordering of Zn-centered porphyrin and phthalocyanine on TiO2 (011): STM studies. Nature Comm. , 8, 787 (2017). ▸read

  12. S. Kawai, K. Takahashi, S. Ito, R. Pawlak, T. Meier, P. Spijker, F. F. Canova, J. Tracey, K. Nozaki, A. S. Foster and E. Meyer. Competing Annulene and Radialene Structures in a Single Anti-Aromatic Molecule Studied by High-Resolution Atomic Force Microscopy. ACS Nano , 11, 8122-8130 (2017). ▸read
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  1. R. Pawlak, M. Kisiel, J. Klinovaja, T. Meier, S. Kawai, Th. Glatzel, D. Loss and E. Meyer. Probing Atomic Structure and Majorana Wavefunctions in Mono-Atomic Fe-chains on Superconducting Pb-Surface. npj Quantum Info, 2, 16035 (2016). ▸read

  2. S. Stehlik, Th. Glatzel, V. Pichot, R. Pawlak, E. Meyer, D. Spitzer, and B. Rezek. Water interaction with hydrogenated and oxidized detonation nanodiamonds - Microscopic and spectroscopic analyses. Diamond and Related Materials, 63, 97-102 (2016). ▸read

  3. R. Pawlak, W. Ouyang, A. E. Filippov, L. Kalikhman-Razvozov, S. Kawai, T. Glatzel, E. Gnecco, A. Baratoff , Q.-S. Zheng, O. Hod, M. Urbakh, E. Meyer. Single Molecule Tribology: Force Microscopy Manipulation of a Porphyrin Derivative on a Copper Surface. ACS Nano, 10, 713-722 (2016). ▸read

  4. S. Kawai, A. Benassi, E. Gnecco, H. Söde, R. Pawlak, X. Feng, K. Müllen, D. Passerone, C. A. Pignedoli, P. Ruffieux, R. Fasel and E. Meyer. Superlubricity of graphene nanoribbons on gold surfaces. Science, 351(6276), 957-961 (2016). ▸read

  5. L. Zajac, P. Olszowski, S. Godlewski, L. Bodek, B. Such, R. Jöhr, R. Pawlak, A. Hinaut, Th. Glatzel, E. Meyer, and M. Szymonski. Self-assembling of Zn porphyrins on a (110) face of rutile ce{TiO2} - The anchoring role of carboxyl groups. Applied Surface Science, 379, 277-281 (2016). ▸read

  6. S. Freund, A. Hinaut, R. Pawlak, S.-X. Liu, S. Decurtins, E. Meyer and Th. Glatzel. Morphology Change of C60 Islands on Organic Crystals Observed by Atomic Force Microscopy. ACS Nano, 10(6), 5782-5788 (2016). ▸read

  7. S. Kawai, A. Sadeghi, T. Okamoto, C. Mitsui, R. Pawlak, T. Meier, J. Takeya, S. Goedecker and E. Meyer. Chemical Structures of Organometallic Intermediate and Carbon-carbon Bonds in on-surface Chemical Reaction. Small, 12(38), 5303-5311 (2016). ▸read
×
  1. R. Pawlak, S. Kawai, Th. Glatzel, and E. Meyer. Single Molecule Force Spectroscopy. In: Noncontact Atomic Force Microscopy,(Springer), 195-222 (2015). ▸read

  2. R. Pawlak, L. Marot, A. Sadeghi, S. Kawai, Th. Glatzel, P. Reimann, S. Goedecker, H.-J. Güntherodt and E. Meyer. Chain-like structure elements in Ni40Ta60 metallic glasses observed by scanning tunneling microscopy. Sci. Rep., 5, 13143 (2015). ▸read

  3. R. Jöhr, A. Hinaut, R. Pawlak, A. Sadeghi, S. Saha, S. Goedecker, B. Such, M. Szymonski, E. Meyer, and Th. Glatzel. Characterization of individual molecular adsorption geometries by atomic force microscopy: Cu-TCPP on rutile TiO2 (110). J. Chem. Phys., 143(9), 094202 (2015). ▸read

  4. A. Hinaut, R. Pawlak, E. Meyer and Th. Glatzel. Electrospray deposition of organic molecules on bulk insulator surfaces. BJ Nano., 6, 1927-1934 (2015). ▸read

  5. M. Kisiel, F. Pellegrini, G. E. Santoro, M. Samadashvili, R. Pawlak, A. Benassi, U. Gysin, R. Buzio, A. Gerbi, E. Meyer and E. Tosatti. Noncontact Atomic Force Microscope Dissipation Reveals a Central Peak of SrTiO3 Structural Phase Transition. Phys. Rev. Lett., 115, 046101 (2015). ▸read

  6. L. Zajac, P. Olszowski, S. Godlewski, B. Such, R. Jöhr,R. Pawlak, A. Hinaut, Th. Glatzel, E. Meyer and M. Szymonski. Ordered heteromolecular overlayers formed by metal phthalocyanines and porphyrines on rutile titanium dioxide surface studied at room temperature. J. Chem. Phys. C., 143, 224702 (2015). ▸read
×
  1. S. Kawai, A. Sadeghi, F. Xu, L. Peng, R. Pawlak, Th. Glatzel, A. Willand, A. Orita, J. Otera, S. Goedecker, and E. Meyer. Correction to Obtaining Detailed Structural Information about Supramolecular Systems on Surfaces by Combining High-Resolution Force Microscopy with ab Initio Calculations. ACS Nano, 8(3), 3099 (2014). ▸read

  2. L. Giovanelli , O. Ourdjini, M. Abel, R. Pawlak, J. Fujii, L. Porte, J.-M. Themlin and S. Clair. Combined Photoemission Spectroscopy and Scanning Tunneling Microscopy Study of the Sequential Dehydrogenation of Hexahydroxytriphenylene on Ag(111). J. Phys. Chem. C., 118, 14899 (2014). ▸read

  3. S. Kawai, M. Koch, E. Gnecco, A. Sadeghi, R. Pawlak, Th. Glatzel, J. Schwarz, S. Goedecker, S. Hecht, A. Baratoff, L. Grill, and E. Meyer. Quantifying the atomic-level mechanics of single long physisorbed molecular chains. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 111(11), 3968-3972 (2014). ▸read

  4. M. Langer, M. Kisiel, R. Pawlak, F. Pelligrini, G. E. Santoro, R. Buzio, A. Gerbi, G. Balakrishnan, A. Baratoff, E. Tosatti and E. Meyer. Giant frictional dissipation peaks and charge-density-wave slips at the NbSe2 surface. Nature Materials, 13(11), 173-177 (2014). ▸read
×
  1. R. Pawlak, Th. Glatzel, V. Pichot, L. Schmidlin, S. Kawai,S. Fremy, D. Spitzer and E. Meyer. Local Detection of Nitrogen-Vacancy Centers in a Nanodiamond Monolayer. Nano Lett., 13, 5803-5807 (2013). ▸read

  2. B. Eren, Th. Glatzel, M. Kisiel, W. Fu, R. Pawlak, U. Gysin, C. Nef, L. Marot, M. Calame, Ch. Schönenberger and E. Meyer. Hydrogen plasma microlithography of graphene supported on a Si/SiO2 substrate. Appl. Phys. Lett., 102, 071602 (2013). ▸read

  3. S. Kawai, A. Sadeghi, X. Feng, P. Lifen, R. Pawlak, T. Glatzel, A. Willand, A. Orita, J. Otera, S. Goedecker, and E. Meyer. Obtaining Detailed Structural Information about Supramolecular Systems on Surfaces by Combining High-Resolution Force Microscopy with ab initio Calculations. ACS Nano, 7(10), 9098 (2013). ▸read
×
  1. B. Eren, D. Hug, L. Marot, R. Pawlak, M. Kisiel, R. Steiner, D. M. Zumbühl and E. Meyer. Pure hydrogen low-temperature plasma exposure of HOPG and graphene: Graphane formation? BJ Nano., 3, 852-859 (2012). ▸read

  2. L. Schmidlin, V. Pichot, S. Josset, R. Pawlak, Th. Glatzel, S. Kawai, E. Meyer and D. Spitzer. Two-dimensional nanodiamond monolayers deposited by combined ultracentrifugation and electrophoresis techniques. Appl. Phys. Lett., 101, 253111 (2012). ▸read

  3. R. Pawlak, S. Fremy, S. Kawai, T. Glatzel, H. Fang, L.-A. Fendt, F. Diederich and E. Meyer. Directed rotations of single porphyrin molecules controlled by localized force spectroscopy. ACS Nano, 6, 6318-6324 (2012). ▸read

  4. F. Bocquet, L. Nony, S. C. B. Mannsfeld, V. Oison, R. Pawlak, L. Porte and Ch. Loppacher. Inhomogeneous Relaxation of a Molecular Layer on an Insulator due to Compressive Stress. Phys. Rev. Lett., 108(20), 206103 (2012). ▸read

  5. L. Porte, M. Abel, P. Amsalem, F. Bocquet, F.C. Bocquet, V. Chevallier, S. Clair, G. Delafosse, S. Desbief, V. Gadenne, L. Giovanelli, M. Koudia, Y. Ksari, C. Loppacher, A. Merlen, L. Nony, O. Ourdjini, L. Patrone, R. Pawlak, J. Romann, J-C. Valmalette and J-M. Themlin. Self-organised growth of molecular arrays at surfaces. Int. J. Nanotechnol., 9, 325 (2012). ▸read

  6. R. Pawlak, S. Kawai, S. Fremy, Th. Glatzel and E. Meyer. High-resolution imaging of C60 molecules using tuning-fork-based non-contact atomic force microscopy. J. Phys.: Cond. Matter., 24, 084005 (2012). ▸read

  7. S. Fremy, S. Kawai, R. Pawlak, Th. Glatzel, A. Baratoff and E. Meyer. Three-dimensional dynamic force spectroscopy measurements on KBr(001): atomic deformations at small tip-sample separations. Nanotechnology, 23, 055401 (2012). ▸read
×
  1. O. Ourdjini, R. Pawlak, M. Abel, S. Clair, L. Chen, N. Bergeon, M. Sassi, V. Oison, J.-M. Debierre, R. Coratger and L. Porte. Substrate-mediated ordering and defect analysis of a surface covalent organic framework. Phys. Rev. B., 84, 125421 (2011). ▸read

  2. R. Pawlak, S. Kawai, S. Fremy, Th. Glatzel and E. Meyer. Atomic-scale mechanical properties of orientated C60 molecules revealed by noncontact atomic force microscopy. ACS Nano, 5(8), 6349-54 (2011). ▸read

  3. S. Kawai, R. Pawlak, Th. Glatzel and E. Meyer. Systematic measurement of pentacene assembled on Cu(111) by bimodal dynamic force microscopy at room temperature. Phys. Rev. B, 84(8), 085429 (2011). ▸read
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  1. R. Pawlak, L. Nony, F. Bocquet, V. Oison, M. Sassi, J.-M. Debierre, Ch. Loppacher and L. Porte. Supramolecular Assemblies of 1,4-Benzene Diboronic Acid on KCl(001). J. Phys. Chem. C., 114(20), 9290-9295 (2010). ▸read
×
  1. N. A. A. Zwaneveld, R. Pawlak, M. Abel, D. Catalin, D. Gigmes, D. Bertin, L. Porte. Synthesis of an ordered covalent monolayer network onto a surface. International Patent Application No.PCT/IB2008/002342, (2009). ▸read

  2. R. Pawlak, S. Clair, V. Oison, M. Abel, O. Ourdjini, N. A. A. Zwaneveld, D. Gigmes, D. Bertin, L. Nony and L. Porte. Robust Supramolecular Network on Ag(111): Hydrogen-Bond Enhancement through Partial Alcohol Dehydrogenation. Chem. Phys. Chem., 10(7), 1032-1035 (2009). ▸read
×
  1. N. A. A. Zwaneveld, R. Pawlak, M. Abel, D. Catalin, D. Gigmes, D. Bertin and L. Porte. Organized Formation of 2D Extended Covalent Organic Frameworks at Surfaces. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 130(21), 6678-6679 (2008). ▸read

Book chapters, review articles and patents

  1. O. Gutiérrez-Varela, Rémy Pawlak, G. Prampolini, E. Meyer, J.G. Vilhena. Molecular Tribology: Chemically Engineering Energy Dissipation at the Nanoscale. Fundamentals of Friction and Wear on the Nanoscale, 117-158 (2024). ▸read

  2. E. Gnecco, R. Pawlak, T. Glatzel, E. Meyer. Atomic-scale investigations of ultralow friction on crystal surfaces in ultrahigh vacuum. Book chapter in Superlubricity, 71-84 (2021). ▸read

  3. R. Pawlak, S. Hoffmann, J. Klinovaja, D. Loss, E. Meyer. Majorana Fermions in Magnetic Chains. Prog. Part. and Nucl. Phys., 107, 1-19, (2019). ▸read

  4. R. Pawlak, S. Kawai, T. Meier, Th. Glatzel, A. Baratoff and E. Meyer. Single-molecule manipulation experiments to explore friction and adhesion. J. Phys. D: App. Phys. , 50 113003 (2017). ▸read

  5. E. Gnecco, R. Pawlak, M. Kisiel, Th. Glatzel and E. Meyer. Atomic scale friction phenomena. In: "Handbook of Nanotechnology", (Springer), 519-548 (2017). ▸read

  6. E. Gnecco, R. Pawlak, M. Kisiel, Th. Glatzel and E. Meyer. Atomic Scale Friction Phenomena. In: "Bhushan B. (eds) Nanotribology and Nanomechanics.", (Spring), 519-548 (2017). ▸read

  7. R. Pawlak, S. Kawai, Th. Glatzel, and E. Meyer. Single Molecule Force Spectroscopy. In: Noncontact Atomic Force Microscopy,(Springer), 195-222 (2015). ▸read

  8. N. A. A. Zwaneveld, R. Pawlak, M. Abel, D. Catalin, D. Gigmes, D. Bertin, L. Porte. Synthesis of an ordered covalent monolayer network onto a surface. International Patent Application No.PCT/IB2008/002342, (2009). ▸read

Peer review activities

I am involved in many peer-review activities for scientific journals such as Nature, Nature Nanotechnology, Nature Communication, Communication Materials, Communication Chemistry, Science Advances, Physical Review Letters, ACS Nano, Angewandte Chemie Int. Ed., Nano Letters, Journal of Physical Chemistry, The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, Small...

Conferences

These last years, I contributed to more than 100 international conferences and seminars dedicated to fields of Physics, Chemistry, material science and scanning probe microcopy. The interactive map bellow displays all places where I had the opportunity to present my scientific reseach in conferences or as an invited talk (star marker).


open map in full screen


Invited talks

  1. COMING SOON! Gate tunable topological superconductivity in a supramolecular spin lattice molecule. University of Zurich (Gp. F. Natterer) , Zurich Switzerland, November 2024
  2. Gate tunable topological superconductivity in a supramolecular spin lattice molecule. IPCMS (Gp. G. Schull) , Strasbourg France, June 2024
  3. Gate tunable topological superconductivity in a supramolecular spin lattice molecule. MolCHSurf Meeting , Bern, June 2024
  4. Giant thermal expansion of a two-dimensional supramolecular network triggered by alkyl chain. 809. WE-Heraeus-Seminar , Bad Honnef Germany, May 2024
  5. Probing charge, spin and vibrational excitations of single molecules. GDR NEMO , Lille France, Sept. 2023
  6. Probing charge, spin and vibrational excitations of single molecules. ECOSS36 , Lodz Poland, June 2023
  7. Structure of atomically-precise graphene and silicene characterized by low temperature atomic force microscopy. DSL2023 , Heraklion Greece, June 2023
  8. Probing charge, spin and vibrational excitations of molecular systems with µeV resolution. EMPA (Gp. B. Schuler/R. Fasel) , Dubendorf Switzerland, March. 2023
  9. A two dimensional array of molecular quantum dots on Pb(111). MolQuest Conference , Switzerland, Aug. 2022
  10. A two dimensional array of molecular quantum dots on Pb(111). Seminar at KIT (Gp. Prof. Wulf Wulfheckel), Germany, May 2022
  11. Sliding Molecules and Mechanical Dissipation Quantum States in Nanoporous Molecular Networks to an Atomic Force Microscope Dissipation Mechanisms in Nano/Mesoscale Tribological Systems , Trieste Italy, May 2022
  12. On-surface synthesis of nanographene characterized by low-temperature atomic force microscopy GDR Nanosciences with near-field microscopy under ultra high vacuum , Online, Jan. 2022
  13. On-surface synthesis of silicene and nanographene characterized by atomic force microscopy 756. WE-Heraeus-Seminar , Bad Honnef, Germany, 2021
  14. Atomic force microscopy for structural analysis and molecule manipulation. University of Münster (Gp. Pr. Harald Fuchs) , Münster, Germany, 2019
  15. Probing Atomic Structure and Majorana Wavefunction in Mono-Atomic Fe Chains on Superconducting Lead. Forschungszentrum Jülich, (Gp. Pr. S. Tautz) , Jülich, Germany, Jan. 2019
  16. How we actuate and steer the swiss nano dragster during the first international Nanocar Race. ACSIN-ICSPM16 Conference , Sendai, Japan, 2018
  17. Propriétés électroniques et structurales de molécules uniques à basse température. CEMES-CNRS , Toulouse, France Nov. 2017
  18. Propriétés électroniques et structurales de molécules uniques à basse température. CEA Grenoble, France, Sept. 2017
  19. Majorana fermions in superconducting Fe chains. Qmol Conference , Ascona, Switzerland, Sept. 2017
  20. Majorana fermions in Fe chains on Pb(110). PCSI-44 conference , Santa Fé, USA, Jan. 2015
  21. Nanocar race. NanoIoTech-The Future of Nanotehnologies for IoT , Geneva, Switzerland, June 2017
  22. Single-molecule friction. Nanotribology conference , Dresden, Germany, Feb. 2017
  23. High-resolution imaging of single-molecules. Czech Academy of Science, (Gp. Dr. Pavel Jelinek) , Praha, Czech Republic, Jan. 2016
  24. Majorana fermions in Fe chains on Pb(110). Max-Planck Institute (gp. Prof. Klaus Kern) , Stuttgart, Germany, 2015
  25. Single-molecule friction. AVS conference , San José, USA, Jan. 2015
  26. Single-molecule friction. XXI International Material Research Congress, Cancun, Mexico, Nov. 2012
  27. High-resolution imaging of single-molecules. Seminar Hümboldt University (Gp. Prof. Norbert Koch) , Berlin, Germany, Jan. 2012
  28. High-resolution imaging of single-molecules. Seminar University (Gp. Prof. Echavarren) , Taragonna, Spain, 2011
  29. High-resolution imaging of single-molecules. Omicron Workshop , Praha, Tchech Republic, 2010
  30. Self-assembly and polymerization of molecules. Seminar at University of Basel (Gp. Prof. E. Meyer) , Basel, Switzerland, Nov. 2009

Outreach and press releases


Phosphorus pentamers unveiled by AFM.
Highlighted in Swiss Nanoscience Insitute , Nano.Swiss and selected by editor of Nat. Comm.
Vibrational excitations of single molecules.
Press releases from Swiss Nanoscience Institute and selected by the editor of Nat. Comm.
Simple geometry that predicts molecular mosaics.
Highlighted in Quanta magazine
Flat Bands in Kagome graphene.
Press releases from University of Basel and YouTube
Basel team secures victory at first nanocar race.
Press release from University of Basel
Articles in Le Temps, La Liberté, TV Basel, Blick and SRF
2D materials: Arrangement of atoms measured in silicene.
Press releases from University of Basel and Phys.org
Training for the first Nanocar Race.
Articles in Red Bulletin, Science et Vie, Le Temps, Bote, L'Alsace and Die Oberbadische
Streching DNA with an AFM tip.
Press releases from University of Basel, Phys.org and GEN
The Nanocar Race on YouTube.
Videos from University of Basel and Nanocar race organisers
First look at the Majorana fermion.
Press release from University of Basel
Fast and Curious: How to win the first Nanocar Race.
Contribution in Nature Nanotechnology
Swiss Nano Dragster.
Pictures used in Le Monde and in Le Temps

Image gallery

Find here journal covers, experimental images, Blender illustrations and small videos for scientific publications, press releases. Please ask permissions for reuse.

Supplementary cover for ACS Material Lett.

Publication here
Supplementary cover for J. Phys. Chem. C.

Published in J. Phys. Chem. C
Frontispiece image for Angewandte Chemie Int. Ed.

Published in Angewandte Chemie Int. Ed.
Cover illustration for Jour. Am. Chem. Soc.

Published in JACS
Quantum Garland

Image selected by the 2021 SNSF Scientific Image Competition
Lifting of a polymeric chain with AFM (Blender illustration).

Published in Nano Letters
Self-assembled hexabenzocorone molecules on Au(111) elucidated by AFM.

Published in Nanoscale
Helical spin texture in atomic chain hosting Majorana fermions.

Published in npj Quantum Information
Pulling single strand DNA

Published in Nature Communication
High-resolution AFM image of pyrenylene chains on Au(111) .

Published in Nano Letters
Buckling of silicene on Ag(111).

Published in PNAS
Swiss Nano Dragsters adsorbed on Au(111).

Published in ACS Nano
Blender illustration of the Swiss Nanodragster in motion.

Published in ACS Nano
The low temperature STM/AFM microscope (group of Prof. Ernst Meyer, University of Basel) where all our data are acquired!

Image selected by the 2017 SNSF Scientific Image Competition
"Nanobone"ballet

Cover of SNI annual report 2018 and selected by the 2021 SNSF Scientific Image Competition
Cu-porphyrins on rutile TiO2.

Published in J. Phys. Chem. C.
Blender illustration of the silicene atomic buckling on Ag(111).

Published in PNAS.
Microscope head

Silicene 4x4 phase.

Published in PNAS.
Seeing metal-ligand interaction in molecules

Published in ACS Omega
AFM image of a Fe-molecule complex

Published in ACS Omega
Illustration of Cu-porphyrins adsorbed on rutile TiO2.

Published in J. Phys. Chem. C.
STM image of the silicene 4x4 phase.

Published in PNAS.
Blender illustration of a single-molecule manipulation experiments to explore friction.

Published in ACS Nano

Contact Me

Department of Physics, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 82, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland

Phone: +41 (0)61 207 3725

Email: remy.pawlak@unibas.ch