Martin Beyer explores unknown chemical reactions and reaction mechanisms on the nanoscale, which are relevant e.g. for atmospheric chemistry or catalysis. One major thrust area are transient species in water clusters, like hydrated electrons or the carbon dioxide radical anion, whose chemistry is investigated in the ultra high vacuum region of a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer. Strictly bimolecular collisions provide well-defined conditions, and individual reaction steps of complex reaction sequences can be monitored by mass spectrometry. Lasers are used to induce photochemistry or to characterize relevant species by their optical spectra. A second research direction is single-molecule force spectroscopy, where chemical reactions are induced by mechanical manipulation of individual polymer molecules with an atomic force microscope.
