With support from the Chemical Structure and Dynamics (CSD) program in the Division of Chemistry, Professor Julia Laskin at Purdue University is investigating the reactivity of well-defined transition metal complexes deposited onto self-assembled monolayer surfaces to gain fundamental insights into the stability, reactivity, and chemical degradation of complex solid interfaces. The limited molecular-level understanding of surface-mediated chemical transformations hinders progress in energy technologies, catalysis, and molecular electronics. This project addresses that gap by developing a generalizable approach that enables the controlled preparation of new interfaces for fundamental studies of interfacial processes. The work will employ sophisticated custom-built ion soft-landing instruments capable of depositing high currents of both intact ions and reactive fragments onto model surfaces with precise control over ion identity, charge state, and kinetic energy. Professor Laskin and her students will systematically examine how factors such as the gas-phase stability of precursor ions, structural rearrangements upon surface impact, and charge retention influence the reactivity of deposited species. By combining mass spectrometry with advanced spectroscopic and electrochemical techniques, the team will investigate ligand loss, charge transfer, and interfacial degradation mechanisms. Their discoveries will inform the design of stable, functional interfaces for applications in pho