Leonhard Grill

After his undergraduate studies in physics at the University of Graz,{{Cite web |title=Leonhard Grill, Professor an der Universität Graz - nano-lab.uni-graz.at |url=https://nano-lab.uni-graz.at/en/about-us/leonhard-grill/ |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=nano-lab.uni-graz.at}}Diploma thesis - {{lang|de|Leonhard Grill, Struktur und Reaktivität der seltenen Erdmetalle Praseodym, Europium und Erbium auf Si(111) : auf der Suche nach zweidimensionalen Siliziden}}, 1996

Catalogue, Library of the University of Graz

https://permalink.obvsg.at/UGR/AC01649386 Grill worked with Silvio Modesti at the {{lang|it|Istituto Nazionale per la Fisica della Materia}} (INFM) in Trieste on his doctoral thesis: "Growth of thin metallic overlayers on Ge(111): Electron confinement and characterization of image resonances by selective electron scattering".{{Cite web |title=Leonhard Grill, Professor an der Universität Graz - nano-lab.uni-graz.at |url=https://nano-lab.uni-graz.at/en/about-us/leonhard-grill/ |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=nano-lab.uni-graz.at}}PhD thesis - Leonhard Grill, Growth of thin metallic overlayers on Ge(111) : electron confinement and characterization of image resonances by selective electron scattering, 2001

Catalogue, Library of the University of Graz

https://permalink.obvsg.at/UGR/AC03345182 He then moved to the Freie University of Berlin (FU Berlin) to work with Karl-Heinz Rieder{{Cite journal |date=January 2007 |title=Research highlights |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/445342a |journal=Nature |language=en |volume=445 |issue=7126 |pages=342–343 |doi=10.1038/445342a |bibcode=2007Natur.445..342. |issn=1476-4687}} where he began to work on the manipulation of single molecules using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM).{{cite journal |doi=10.1088/1742-6596/19/1/028 |title=Force induced and electron stimulated STM manipulations: Routes to artificial nanostructures as well as to molecular contacts, engines and switches |date=2005 |last1=Rieder |first1=Karl-Heinz |last2=Meyer |first2=Gerhard |last3=Moresco |first3=Francesca |last4=Morgenstern |first4=Karina |last5=Hla |first5=Saw-Wai |last6=Repp |first6=Jascha |last7=Alemani |first7=Micol |last8=Grill |first8=Leonhard |last9=Gross |first9=Leo |last10=Mehlhorn |first10=Michael |last11=Gawronski |first11=Heiko |last12=Simic-Milosevich |first12=Violeta |last13=Henzl |first13=Jörg |last14=Braun |first14=Kai F. |last15=Foelsch |first15=Stefan |last16=Bartels |first16=Ludwig |display-authors=3 |journal=Journal of Physics: Conference Series |volume=19 |issue=1 |pages=175–181 |bibcode=2005JPhCS..19..175R |doi-access=free }}{{Cite journal |last=ALEXANDER |first=Still |date=2011 |title=MaxPlanckResearch 2/2011 - Focus: Medicine of Tomorrow |url=https://www.mpg.de/4379702/MPR_2011_2.pdf |journal=Research - the Science Magazine of the Max Planck Society |volume=2 - 2011 |pages=73–77}} In 2007 he submitted his habilitation at the FU Berlin.{{Cite thesis |last=Leonhard |first=Grill |date=2007 |title=Functionalized molecules studied by STM: Towards molecular nanotechnology: Habilitationsschrift |language=en |doi=10.17169/refubium-45504 |doi-access=free}}

He was appointed Professor of Physical Chemistry at the University of Graz in 2013.{{Cite web |title=Journal of the University of Graz with the Appointment of Leonhard Grill as Professor, Section 329 |url=https://mitteilungsblatt.uni-graz.at/de/2012-13/39/html/ |access-date=2024-11-25 |website=mitteilungsblatt.uni-graz.at}}

Grill's research group uses scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy to study and selectively manipulate molecules on surfaces. His interests range from chemical processes of single atoms and molecules to the bottom-up growth of two-dimensional supra- and macromolecular assemblies. Additional research areas include molecules with mechanical, chemical, electronic, optical or electrical functionalities.{{Cite web |title=Leonhard Grill, Professor an der Universität Graz - nano-lab.uni-graz.at |url=https://nano-lab.uni-graz.at/de/ueber-uns/leonhard-grill/ |access-date=2024-12-04 |website=nano-lab.uni-graz.at}}

By pulling individual polymers off of a surface with the tip of the scanning tunnelling microscope, Grill's group was able to measure for the first time the conductivity of individual molecular wires as a function of their length.{{Cite journal |last1=Lafferentz |first1=Leif |last2=Ample |first2=Francisco |last3=Yu |first3=Hao |last4=Hecht |first4=Stefan |last5=Joachim |first5=Christian |last6=Grill |first6=Leonhard |date=2009-02-27 |title=Conductance of a Single Conjugated Polymer as a Continuous Function of Its Length |url=https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.1168255 |journal=Science |language=en |volume=323 |issue=5918 |pages=1193–1197 |doi=10.1126/science.1168255 |pmid=19251624 |bibcode=2009Sci...323.1193L |issn=0036-8075|url-access=subscription }}{{Cite journal |last1=Koch |first1=Matthias |last2=Ample |first2=Francisco |last3=Joachim |first3=Christian |last4=Grill |first4=Leonhard |date=December 2012 |title=Voltage-dependent conductance of a single graphene nanoribbon |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/nnano.2012.169 |journal=Nature Nanotechnology |language=en |volume=7 |issue=11 |pages=713–717 |doi=10.1038/nnano.2012.169 |pmid=23064554 |bibcode=2012NatNa...7..713K |issn=1748-3387|url-access=subscription }} He studied the switching mechanism of single-molecule switches,{{Cite journal |last1=Alemani |first1=Micol |last2=Peters |first2=Maike V. |last3=Hecht |first3=Stefan |last4=Rieder |first4=Karl-Heinz |last5=Moresco |first5=Francesca |last6=Grill |first6=Leonhard |date=2006-11-01 |title=Electric Field-Induced Isomerization of Azobenzene by STM |url=https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/ja065449s |journal=Journal of the American Chemical Society |language=en |volume=128 |issue=45 |pages=14446–14447 |doi=10.1021/ja065449s |pmid=17090013 |bibcode=2006JAChS.12814446A |issn=0002-7863|url-access=subscription }} based on intramolecular isomerization or proton transfer. In addition, his group found that a strong influence of the immediate environment on each molecule existed – caused both by the atomic lattice of the surface{{Cite journal |last1=Dri |first1=Carlo |last2=Peters |first2=Maike V. |last3=Schwarz |first3=Jutta |last4=Hecht |first4=Stefan |last5=Grill |first5=Leonhard |date=November 2008 |title=Spatial periodicity in molecular switching |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/nnano.2008.269 |journal=Nature Nanotechnology |language=en |volume=3 |issue=11 |pages=649–653 |doi=10.1038/nnano.2008.269 |pmid=18989329 |bibcode=2008NatNa...3..649D |issn=1748-3387|url-access=subscription }} and single atoms in the vicinity of the molecule.{{Cite journal |last1=Kumagai |first1=Takashi |last2=Hanke |first2=Felix |last3=Gawinkowski |first3=Sylwester |last4=Sharp |first4=John |last5=Kotsis |first5=Konstantinos |last6=Waluk |first6=Jacek |last7=Persson |first7=Mats |last8=Grill |first8=Leonhard |date=January 2014 |title=Controlling intramolecular hydrogen transfer in a porphycene molecule with single atoms or molecules located nearby |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/nchem.1804 |journal=Nature Chemistry |language=en |volume=6 |issue=1 |pages=41–46 |doi=10.1038/nchem.1804 |pmid=24345945 |bibcode=2014NatCh...6...41K |issn=1755-4330|hdl=11858/00-001M-0000-0014-7472-2 |hdl-access=free }} His contributions to the field of molecular dynamics on surfaces include rolling{{Cite journal |last1=Grill |first1=L. |last2=Rieder |first2=K.-H. |last3=Moresco |first3=F. |last4=Rapenne |first4=G. |last5=Stojkovic |first5=S. |last6=Bouju |first6=X. |last7=Joachim |first7=C. |date=February 2007 |title=Rolling a single molecular wheel at the atomic scale |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/nnano.2006.210 |journal=Nature Nanotechnology |language=en |volume=2 |issue=2 |pages=95–98 |doi=10.1038/nnano.2006.210 |pmid=18654226 |bibcode=2007NatNa...2...95G |issn=1748-3387|url-access=subscription }} the first molecular wheels across a surface, activating molecular motors with light,{{Cite journal |last1=Saywell |first1=Alex |last2=Bakker |first2=Anne |last3=Mielke |first3=Johannes |last4=Kumagai |first4=Takashi |last5=Wolf |first5=Martin |last6=García-López |first6=Víctor |last7=Chiang |first7=Pinn-Tsong |last8=Tour |first8=James M. |last9=Grill |first9=Leonhard |date=2016-12-27 |title=Light-Induced Translation of Motorized Molecules on a Surface |url=https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsnano.6b05650 |journal=ACS Nano |language=en |volume=10 |issue=12 |pages=10945–10952 |doi=10.1021/acsnano.6b05650 |pmid=27783488 |issn=1936-0851|url-access=subscription }} and moving individual molecules over relatively large distances with extremely high precision.{{Cite web |date=6 September 2023 |title=Nano-Forscher der Uni Graz entwickelten neuartigen molekularen Motor |url=https://science.apa.at/power-search/2632496016597912369 |access-date=4 December 2024 |website=APA Science |language=de}}{{Cite journal |last1=Civita |first1=Donato |last2=Kolmer |first2=Marek |last3=Simpson |first3=Grant J. |last4=Li |first4=An-Ping |last5=Hecht |first5=Stefan |last6=Grill |first6=Leonhard |date=2020-11-20 |title=Control of long-distance motion of single molecules on a surface |url=https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abd0696 |journal=Science |language=en |volume=370 |issue=6519 |pages=957–960 |doi=10.1126/science.abd0696 |pmid=33214276 |bibcode=2020Sci...370..957C |issn=0036-8075}}{{Cite web |last=mdr.de |title=Grazer Forscher versenden und empfangen einzelne Moleküle {{!}} MDR.DE |url=https://www.mdr.de/wissen/forscher-versenden-und-empfangen-molekuele-100.html |access-date=2024-12-04 |website=www.mdr.de |language=de}} By combining a molecule with a surface, his group discovered a novel type of molecular motor that can move unidirectionally with 100% efficiency, and even transport individual carbon monoxide molecules as "cargo".{{Cite journal |last1=Simpson |first1=Grant J. |last2=Persson |first2=Mats |last3=Grill |first3=Leonhard |date=2023-09-07 |title=Adsorbate motors for unidirectional translation and transport |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06384-y |journal=Nature |language=en |volume=621 |issue=7977 |pages=82–86 |doi=10.1038/s41586-023-06384-y |pmid=37673992 |bibcode=2023Natur.621...82S |issn=0028-0836|url-access=subscription }} This system has been described as "a nanoscale bulldozer".{{cite journal |doi=10.1038/scientificamerican1223-14a |doi-access=free |title=Nanoscale Bulldozer |date=2023 |last1=Cutts |first1=Elise |journal=Scientific American |volume=329 |issue=5 |page=14 |pmid=39017309 }}

Grill developed, together with Stefan Hecht, "covalent on-surface polymerization",{{Cite journal |last1=Grill |first1=Leonhard |last2=Dyer |first2=Matthew |last3=Lafferentz |first3=Leif |last4=Persson |first4=Mats |last5=Peters |first5=Maike V. |last6=Hecht |first6=Stefan |date=November 2007 |title=Nano-architectures by covalent assembly of molecular building blocks |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/nnano.2007.346 |journal=Nature Nanotechnology |language=en |volume=2 |issue=11 |pages=687–691 |doi=10.1038/nnano.2007.346 |pmid=18654406 |bibcode=2007NatNa...2..687G |issn=1748-3387|url-access=subscription }} in which molecular building blocks are connected to construct highly defined and stable networks on surfaces.{{Cite journal |last1=Grill |first1=Leonhard |last2=Hecht |first2=Stefan |date=February 2020 |title=Covalent on-surface polymerization |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41557-019-0392-9 |journal=Nature Chemistry |language=en |volume=12 |issue=2 |pages=115–130 |doi=10.1038/s41557-019-0392-9 |pmid=31996811 |bibcode=2020NatCh..12..115G |issn=1755-4330|url-access=subscription }}{{Cite web |date=2023-04-03 |title=Steirer des Tages: Auf Du und Du mit den kleinsten Maschinen |url=https://www.kleinezeitung.at/steiermark/6271234/Steirer-des-Tages_Auf-Du-und-Du-mit-den-kleinsten-Maschinen |access-date=2024-12-04 |website=www.kleinezeitung.at |language=de}}

• 2024 Research Prize of the Province of Styria (Forschungspreis des Landes Steiermark){{Cite web |last=Rupprecht |first=Wissenschaft-Land Steiermark, Anita |title=Forschungspreise des Landes Steiermark |url=https://www.wissenschaft.steiermark.at/cms/ziel/76925500/de/#tb10 |access-date=2024-11-22 |website=Wissenschaft - Land Steiermark |language=de}}
• 2023 Advanced Grant of the European Research Council (ERC){{Cite journal |last1=Simpson |first1=Grant J. |last2=García-López |first2=Víctor |last3=Petermeier |first3=Philipp |last4=Grill |first4=Leonhard |last5=Tour |first5=James M. |date=July 2017 |title=How to build and race a fast nanocar |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/nnano.2017.137 |journal=Nature Nanotechnology |language=en |volume=12 |issue=7 |pages=604–606 |doi=10.1038/nnano.2017.137 |pmid=28681857 |bibcode=2017NatNa..12..604S |issn=1748-3387|url-access=subscription }}
• 2017 Winner of the first Nanocar Race (together with Grant Simpson and James Tour),{{Cite journal |last1=Rapenne |first1=Gwénaël |last2=Joachim |first2=Christian |date=2017-06-06 |title=The first nanocar race |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/natrevmats201740 |journal=Nature Reviews Materials |language=en |volume=2 |issue=6 |page=17040 |doi=10.1038/natrevmats.2017.40 |bibcode=2017NatRM...217040R |issn=2058-8437|url-access=subscription }}{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFZLmesIdWQ |title=American-Austrian NanoPrix Team is winner of the first NanoCarRace |date=2017-10-05 |last=unigraz |access-date=2024-12-04 |via=YouTube}} selected as Research of the Year 2017 by the C&EN Journal of the American Chemical Society{{cite journal |doi=10.3390/molecules23030612 |doi-access=free |title=From the Synthesis of Nanovehicles to Participation in the First Nanocar Race—View from the French Team |date=2018 |last1=Jacquot De Rouville |first1=Henri-Pierre |last2=Kammerer |first2=Claire |last3=Rapenne |first3=Gwénaël |journal=Molecules |volume=23 |issue=3 |page=612 |pmid=29518034 |pmc=6017560 }}
• 2011 Feynman Prize in Nanotechnology of the Foresight Institute{{Cite web |title=2011 Foresight Institute Feynman Prize |url=https://legacy.foresight.org/about/2011Feynman.html |access-date=2024-11-22 |website=legacy.foresight.org}}
• 2010 Young Leaders in Science scholarship of the Schering Foundation

{{reflist}}

• [https://nano-lab.uni-graz.at Single-Molecule Chemistry Research group, NanoLab]

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Category:Living people

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:Austrian physicists

Category:Fellows of the Royal Society of Chemistry

Category:University of Graz alumni