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Rainer Beck Laboratory of Molecular Physical Chemistry Professor web site: http://ggsd.epfl.ch/ office(s): CHG1491 phone(s): [+41 21 69] 33037 private phone: 41 (0)79 221 7361 fax: 41 (0)21 693 5170 Teaching I teach two courses on General Chemistry for first semester students in physics and mechanical engineering. MISSION In our laboratory, we study the elementary steps of chemical reactions between gas-phase molecules and solid surfaces such as the chemisorption of methane on a nickel catalyst. We use molecular beams and laser radiation to probe the reaction process at a molecular level by performing quantum state resolved reactivity measurements. The results of these experiments provide stringent tests for theoretical models of gas-surface chemistry which is of importance for many industrial and technological processes. In addition to teaching and research, I serve as the deputy to the dean of the faculty of basic sciences. MAIN PUBLICATIONS F. Reiche, B. Abel, R. D. Beck, and T. R. Rizzo. Double-resonance overtone photofragment spectroscopy of trans-HONO. i. spectroscopy and intramolecular dynamics. JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL PHYSICS, 112(20):8885-8898, 2000. [ DOI | Details | Link ] F. Reiche, B. Abel, R. Beck, and T. Rizzo. Double-resonance overtone photofragment spectroscopy of trans-HONO. II. state- and time-resolved dissociation and OH-product state distributions. Journal of Chemical Physics, 116(23):10267, 2002. [ DOI | Details ] M. Schmid, P. Maroni, R. Beck, and T. Rizzo. Surface reactivity of highly vibrationally excited molecules prepared by pulsed laser excitation: CH4 (2 nu(3)) on Ni(100). JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL PHYSICS, 117(19):8603-8606, 2002. [ DOI | Details ] M. Schmid, P. Maroni, R. Beck, and T. Rizzo. Molecular-beam/surface-science apparatus for state-resolved chemisorption studies using pulsed-laser preparation. Review of Scientific Instruments, 74(9):4110-4120, 2003. [ DOI | Details ] R. Beck, P. Maroni, D. Papageorgopoulos, T. Dang, M. Schmid, and T. Rizzo. Vibrational mode-specific reaction of methane on a nickel surface. Science, 302(5642):98, 2003. [ DOI | Details ] R. Beck and T. Rizzo. Quantum state resolved studies of gas/surface reaction dynamics. CHIMIA, 58(5):306-310, 2004. [ DOI | Details ] P. Maroni, D. C. Papageorgopoulos, M. Sacchi, T. T. Dang, R. D. Beck, and T. R. Rizzo. State-resolved gas-surface reactivity of methane in the symmetric C-H stretch vibration on Ni(100). Physical Review Letters, 94(24):246104, 2005. [ DOI | Details | Link ] P. Maroni, D. Papageorgopoulos, A. Ruf, R. D. Beck, and T. R. Rizzo. Efficient Stimulated Raman Pumping for Quantum-State Resolved Surface Reactivity Measurements. Review of Scientific Instruments, 77:054103, 2006. [ DOI | Details ] A. Kamariotis, O. V. Boyarkin, S. R. Mercier, R. D. Beck, M. F. Bush, E. R. Williams, and T. R. Rizzo. Infrared spectroscopy of hydrated amino acids in the gas phase: protonated and lithiated valine. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 128:905, 2006. [ DOI | Details ] R. Bisson, M. Sacchi, T. T. Dang, B. Yoder, P. Maroni, and R. D. Beck. State-Resolved Reactivity of CH4(2½3) on Pt(111) and Ni(111): Effects of Barrier Height and Transition State Location. Journal of Physical Chemistry A, 111(49):12679 - 12683, 2007. Part of the “Giacinto Scoles Festschriftâ€�. [ DOI | Details | Link ] R. Bisson, T. T. Dang, M. Sacchi, and R. D. Beck. Cavity ring-down spectroscopy of jet-cooled silane isotopologues in the Si-H stretch overtone region. Journal of Chemical Physics, 127(24):244301, 2007. Selected for January 14, 2008 issue of Virtual Journal of Nanoscale Science & Technology. [ DOI | Details | Link ] R. Bisson, T. T. Dang, M. Sacchi, and R. D. Beck. Vibrational Activation in Direct and Precursor-Mediated Chemisorption of SiH4 on Si(100). Journal of Chemical Physics, 129(8):081103, 2008. [ DOI | Details | Link ] R. Bisson, M. Sacchi, and R. D. Beck. State-resolved reactivity of CH4 on Pt(110)-(1 x 2): The role of surface orientation and impact site. Journal of Chemical Physics, 132(9):094702, 2010. [ DOI | Details | Link ] B. Yoder, R. Bisson, and R. Beck. Steric Effects in the Chemisorption of Vibrationally Excited Methane on Ni(100). Science, 329:553, 2010. [ DOI | Details | Full Text | Link ] R. Bisson, M. Sacchi, and R. Beck. Mode-specific reactivity of CH4 on Pt(110)-(1×2): The concerted role of stretch and bend excitation. Physical Review -Series B-, 82(12):121404(R), 2010. Rapid communication, selected as editors choice by Phys. Rev. B. [ DOI | Details | Full Text ] B. Yoder, R. Bisson, P. M. Hundt, and R. Beck. Alignment dependent chemisorption of vibrationally excited CH4(3) on Ni(100), Ni(110), and Ni(111). Journal of Chemical Physics, 135:224703, 2011. [ DOI | Details | Full Text ] BIOGRAPHY Professor titulaire EPFL, 2006 Privat Docent EPFL, 1997 Habilitation and venia legendi, Universität Karlsruhe, 1996 Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry, Oregon State University, 1990 Degree in Physics, Universität Stuttgart, 1985

Skills Combining laser spectroscopic techniques and molecular beams with ultra-high vacuum surface science to explore the chemical reaction dynamics of gas/surface reactions. Teaching Chemistry and Chemical Engineering General chemistry [fr] (SPH SGM) Phd programs Chemistry and Chemical Engineering (edoc) Phd Students Chen Li Hundt Phil Morten Past Phd students: Dang Thanh Tung Maroni Plinio Sacchi Marco Yoder Bruce DIVERS