| Abstract: | Supermicroscopic techniques like STM, AFM and SNOM are able to image surfaces down to atomic resolution. Their application to chemically reacting rough organic surfaces leads to unprecedented results which do not accord with the topochemical principle of minimum molecular movement. Rather, feature-forming long-range molecular movements are essential for chemical reactivity. Thus, waste-free solid-state reactions proceed in three steps: phase rebuilding, phase transformation and crystal disintegration. Liquid phases are avoided in solid photochemical, solid thermal, gadsolid and solid/solid syntheses, the upscaling of which will provide the future chemical production techniques. Chemical contrast with SNOM is shown for the first time. It complements the AFM results which are interpreted in terms of crystal structure. |
