Rémy Pawlak
Senior Scientist at the University of Basel and
WSS Research Center for Molecular Quantum Systems (molQ)
About me
I am Rémy Pawlak, senior scientist at the University of Basel (Switzerland).
I am from Marseille, southern France, where I studied Physics.
I received my bachelor and my master 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.
Published Papers
h-Index
Invited Talks
International Conferences
In @acsnano we show the synthesis and lifting experiments of frustrated atropisomers using low temperature force spectroscopy and MD simulations. Fundings: @nanolino-unibas.bsky.social @snsf-ch.bsky.social, @sniunibas.bsky.social, @unibas.ch, @erc.europa.eu pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
— Rémy Pawlak (@pawlakremy.bsky.social) 7 avril 2025 à 09:17
[image or embed]
Research
Designing low-dimensional quantum materials

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.

Bond imaging of molecules and atomic structures

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)

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. ACS Nano 19, 3403-3413 (2025)
J.-C. Liu, et al.
Adv. Sci., 12, 2412351 (2025)

Publications
Selected publications
- J.-C. Liu, C. Li, O. Chahib, X. Wang, S. Rothenbühler, R. Häner, S. Decurtins, U. Aschauer, S.-X. Liu, E. Meyer, R. Pawlak. Spin excitations of high spin iron(II) in metal-organic chains on metal and superconductor. Adv. Sci. 12, 2570043 (2025). ▸read
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- R. Pawlak and T. Meier. Fast and Curious. Nat. Nanotechnol. 12, 712-712 (2017). ▸read
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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.
Book chapters, review articles and patents
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- E. Gnecco, R. Pawlak, M. Kisiel, Th. Glatzel and E. Meyer. Atomic scale friction phenomena. In: "Handbook of Nanotechnology", (Springer), 519-548 (2017). ▸read
- 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
- R. Pawlak, S. Kawai, Th. Glatzel, and E. Meyer. Single Molecule Force Spectroscopy. In: Noncontact Atomic Force Microscopy,(Springer), 195-222 (2015). ▸read
- 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).
Invited talks
-
COMING SOON- tba. spinQuest Conference , Ascona Switzerland, August 2025
-
COMING SOON- tba. Symposium on low dimensional systems , Napoli Italy, June 2025
-
COMING SOON- tba. PriOSS Symposium , Schloss Rauischnolzhausen, Germany, 20th May 2025
-
COMING SOON- tba. First National Conference on Surface and Interface Science of the Chinese Chemical Society , Chengdu, China, 9th May 2025
- Proximity-induced superconductivity in quantum molecular systems.
molQ kick-off meeting ,
Schloss Hünigen, Switzerland, 17th February 2025
- Proximity-induced superconductivity in quantum molecular systems.
TRNM IX conference , Laplan, Finland, 12th February 2025
- Proximity induced superconductivity in quantum molecular systems.
IM2NP , Marseille France, 17th December 2024
- Proximity induced superconductivity in quantum molecular systems.
University of Zürich (Gp. F. Natterer) , Zurich Switzerland, November 2024
- Gate tunable topological superconductivity in a supramolecular spin lattice molecule.
IPCMS (Gp. G. Schull) , Strasbourg France, June 2024
- Gate tunable topological superconductivity in a supramolecular spin lattice molecule.
MolCHSurf Meeting , Bern, June 2024
- Giant thermal expansion of a two-dimensional supramolecular network triggered by alkyl chain.
809. WE-Heraeus-Seminar , Bad Honnef Germany, May 2024
- Probing charge, spin and vibrational excitations of single molecules.
GDR NEMO , Lille France, Sept. 2023
- Probing charge, spin and vibrational excitations of single molecules.
ECOSS36 , Lodz Poland, June 2023
- Structure of atomically-precise graphene and
silicene characterized by low temperature atomic force microscopy.
DSL2023 , Heraklion Greece, June 2023
- Probing charge, spin and vibrational excitations of molecular systems
with µeV resolution. EMPA (Gp. B. Schuler/R. Fasel) , Dubendorf Switzerland, March. 2023
- A two dimensional array of molecular quantum dots on Pb(111). MolQuest Conference , Switzerland, Aug. 2022
- A two dimensional array of molecular quantum dots on Pb(111). Seminar at KIT (Gp. Prof. Wulf Wulfheckel), Germany, May 2022
- 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
- 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
- On-surface synthesis of silicene and nanographene characterized by atomic force microscopy 756. WE-Heraeus-Seminar , Bad Honnef, Germany, 2021
- Atomic force microscopy for structural analysis and molecule manipulation. University of Münster (Gp. Pr. Harald Fuchs) , Münster, Germany, 2019
- Probing Atomic Structure and Majorana Wavefunction in Mono-Atomic Fe Chains on Superconducting Lead. Forschungszentrum Jülich, (Gp. Pr. S. Tautz) , Jülich, Germany, Jan. 2019
- How we actuate and steer the swiss nano dragster during the first international Nanocar Race. ACSIN-ICSPM16 Conference , Sendai, Japan, 2018
- Propriétés électroniques et structurales de molécules uniques à basse température. CEMES-CNRS , Toulouse, France Nov. 2017
- Propriétés électroniques et structurales de molécules uniques à basse température. CEA Grenoble, France, Sept. 2017
- Majorana fermions in superconducting Fe chains. Qmol Conference , Ascona, Switzerland, Sept. 2017
- Majorana fermions in Fe chains on Pb(110). PCSI-44 conference , Santa Fé, USA, Jan. 2015
- Nanocar race. NanoIoTech-The Future of Nanotehnologies for IoT , Geneva, Switzerland, June 2017
- Single-molecule friction. Nanotribology conference , Dresden, Germany, Feb. 2017
- High-resolution imaging of single-molecules. Czech Academy of Science, (Gp. Dr. Pavel Jelinek) , Praha, Czech Republic, Jan. 2016
- Majorana fermions in Fe chains on Pb(110). Max-Planck Institute (gp. Prof. Klaus Kern) , Stuttgart, Germany, 2015
- Single-molecule friction. AVS conference , San José, USA, Jan. 2015
- Single-molecule friction. XXI International Material Research Congress, Cancun, Mexico, Nov. 2012
- High-resolution imaging of single-molecules. Seminar Hümboldt University (Gp. Prof. Norbert Koch) , Berlin, Germany, Jan. 2012
- High-resolution imaging of single-molecules. Seminar University (Gp. Prof. Echavarren) , Taragonna, Spain, 2011
- High-resolution imaging of single-molecules. Omicron Workshop , Praha, Tchech Republic, 2010
- Self-assembly and polymerization of molecules. Seminar at University of Basel (Gp. Prof. E. Meyer) , Basel, Switzerland, Nov. 2009
Outreach and press releases


Highlighted in Swiss Nanoscience Insitute , Nano.Swiss and selected by editor of Nat. Comm.

Press releases from Swiss Nanoscience Institute and selected by the editor of Nat. Comm.

Highlighted in Quanta magazine


Press release from University of Basel
Articles in Le Temps, La Liberté, TV Basel, Blick and SRF

Press releases from University of Basel and Phys.org

Articles in Red Bulletin, Science et Vie, Le Temps, Bote, L'Alsace and Die Oberbadische



Press release from University of Basel

Contribution in Nature Nanotechnology
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