Grant: Canada Research Chairs

In 2014, Crudden demonstrated that organic molecules bearing a reactive carbon atom (N-heterocyclic carbenes, NHCs) make organic layers on metal surfaces with unprecedented stability. Prior to this, organic-to-metal contacts were made using 30 year old technology based on sulfur-containing molecules. Unlike sulfur-based molecular layers, NHC-based layers withstand unprecedented extremes of pH, heat and oxidation. In this proposal, Crudden will: generate novel NHC structures, NHC monolayers on other metals, and test these films in biosensing, corrosion resistance and micropatterning. Other aspects of her work involve novel, metal-free catalysts and catalytic methods for the production of chiral molecules with important biological properties.