skip to content

Professor of Physical & Computational Surface Chemistry

Our research is focussed upon the application of first-principles theory and ultra-high-vacuum single-crystal experiments to problems in surface chemistry and catalysis. We make use of fibre-optic low-energy electron diffraction (FO-LEED) to obtain structural information, reflection absorption infra-red spectroscopy (RAIRS) to obtain vibrational information, single-crystal adsorption calorimetry (SCAC) to obtain energetic information, supersonic molecular beams (SMB) to obtain kinetic information, and low- temperature scanning tunnelling microscopy (LT-STM) to obtain morphological, topographic and electronic information about surfaces and the molecules that adsorb, diffuse and react upon them. Density functional theory (DFT) provides a framework within which to calculate comparable data, which aids in the interpretation of our experimental work.

Our work is concentrated within four main research themes:

  • complex interadsorbate interactions; 
  • nanoscale surface phenomena; 
  • chiral surface systems;
  • and tuning reactivity and catalysis.

Individual research projects are chosen to reflect these themes, lending coherence to a diverse range of topical studies. Thus, by way of example, our work on the adsorption of alanine on Cu{531} addresses issues relating to the formation of complex hydrogen-bonded adsorbate networks, whilst also shedding light on the interaction of chiral molecules with an intrinsically chiral metal surface; moreover, certain adsorbates can cause this unstable surface to break up into nanoscale facets, whose catalytic properties will differ markedly from those of the notionally ideal surface. Tackling these interlinked aspects of surface science requires a flexible approach, making use of multiple experimental techniques complemented by a rigorously benchmarked theoretical methodology.

Professor Jenkins discusses his research

Publications

Interchange of Weyl points in the phonon bands of a half-metal alloy
SJ Jenkins, GP Srivastava
– Physical review B (PRB)
(2024)
109,
085140
Code supporting "Interchange of Weyl Points in the Phonon Bands of a Half-Metal Alloy"
S Jenkins
(2024)
Configuration of ammonia on Cu{311}: Infrared spectroscopy and first-principles theory.
K Sitathani, I Temprano, SJ Jenkins
– The Journal of Chemical Physics
(2024)
160,
054703
Configuration of ammonia on Cu{311}: Infrared spectroscopy and first-principles theory
K Sitathani, I Temprano, SJ Jenkins
– The Journal of Chemical Physics
(2024)
160,
Dynamic Diastereomerism on Chiral Surfaces.
SC Matysik, DJ Wales, SJ Jenkins
– The journal of physical chemistry. C, Nanomaterials and interfaces
(2022)
127,
229
First-Principles Dynamics of Fluorine Adsorption on Clean and Monohydrogenated Si{001}.
IYH Wu, SJ Jenkins
– Langmuir: the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids
(2022)
38,
7256
The dehydrogenation of butane on metal-free graphene.
S Jenkins, A Brooks, M Sacchi, J McGregor, S Wrabetz
– Journal of Colloid and Interface Science
(2022)
619,
377
Partial reduction of NO to N2O on Cu{311}: role of intermediate N2O2
I Temprano Farina, K Sitathani, S Jenkins
– Catalysis Science & Technology
(2022)
12,
2793
Partial reduction of NO to N2O on Cu{311}: role of intermediate N2O2
K Sitathani, SJ Jenkins, I Temprano
– Catalysis Science & Technology
(2022)
12,
2793
Rotational Dynamics of Desorption: Methane and Ethane at Stepped and Kinked Platinum Surfaces
SC Matysik, DJ Wales, SJ Jenkins
– The Journal of Physical Chemistry C
(2021)
125,
27938
  • 1 of 21
  • >

Research Interest Groups

Telephone number

01223 336502

Email address