Mohamed El Garah

Post Doctoral Fellow

Université du Québec
Institut national de la recherche scientifique
Énergie, Matériaux et Télécommunications
1650, boulevard Lionel-Boulet
Varennes, Québec, Canada
J3X 1S2

Telephone: +1 (450) 929-8224/8140
Fax: +1 (450) 929-8102
elgarah@emt.inrs.ca
www.emt.inrs.ca

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Molecular self-assembly on surfaces is a promising strategy for fabrication of nano-objects. Many complex architectures have been created on surfaces using various intermolecular interactions (Van der Waals, H-bon, etc.). However, these structures are fragile because intermolecular interactions are week, which leads to unstable nanostructures.

The direct control of molecular interconnections on surfaces via covalent bonds offers a way to overcome these limitations. Several experiments have shown the possibility of obtaining nanostructures linked by covalent bonds. Of note is the variety of reactions and different activation mechanisms employed to form these nanostructures, for example: formation of imines, dehydration, esterification and the coupling of radicals and carbenes. These experiments open a new field of research.

My specific goal in our research focuses on the molecular self-assembly on metallic surfaces and catalytic growth of polymer structures in 2D. To develop this project we will require use organic chemistry (synthesis of molecules) and surface science techniques as STM, LEED/Auger and XPS.

Journals Publications

M. El Garah, Y. Makoudi, E. Duverger, F. Palmino, A. Rochefort, F. Chérioux (2011) Large-scale patterning of zwitterionic molecules on a Si(111)-7×7 surface, NACS Nano, 5, 424–428

M. El Garah, B. Baris, V. Luzet, F. Palmino, F. Chérioux (2010) Reversible single molecular switch operating at 300 K on a surface, Chem. Phys. Chem., 11, 2568-2572

M. El Garah, F. Palmino, F. Chérioux (2010) Reversible photoswitching of azobenzene-based monolayers physisorbed on a mica surface, Langmuir, 26, 943-949

M. El Garah, Y. Makoudi, F. Chérioux, E. Duverger, F. Palmino (2010) Chemisorption of Trimesic Acid on a Si(111)-7×7 Surface, J. Phys. Chem. C, 114, 4511–4514

M. El Garah, Y. Makoudi, F. Palmino, E. Duverger, Ph. Sonnet, L. Chaput, A. Gourdon, F. Chérioux (2009) STM and DFT Investigations of Isolated Porphyrin on a silicon-Based Semiconductor at Room Temperature, Chem. Phys. Chem.,10, 3190-3193

Y. Makoudi, M. El Garah, E. Duverger, F. Palmino, F. Chérioux (2009) Double Decoration of a Si(111)-7×7 Surface at Room Temperature by Chemisorption of an Organic Salt, J. Phys. Chem. C, 113, 3713–3716

Y. Makoudi, M. El Garah, F. Palmino, E. Duverger, M. Arab, F. Chérioux (2008) Adsorption of an organic zwitterion on a Si(111)-7×7 surface at room temperature, Surf. Sci., 602, 2719–2723,