Design, synthesis and surface studies of novel motors and switches on the surface towards the investigation of Chiral Symmetry Breaking

This project concerns a Double Doctorate degree, between University of Groningen (supervisor prof. Ben Feringa) and KU Leuven (supervisor prof. Steven De Feyter). The PhD student will be a member of the CHISUB consortium (FWO-FNRS EOS), dedicated to the investigation of Chiral Symmetry Breaking (CSB). CSB occurs at various length and timescales and results from physical or chemical processes, both in the bulk and at interfaces. Broadly speaking, the PhD student will spend the first two years in Groningen, on the design and synthesis of novel molecular switches and machines towards this goal, and the last two years in Leuven, on using scanning tunneling microscopy techniques and investigating previously mentioned compounds on the surface.