NIRT: Molecular Spin-Active Nanoelectronics

NIRT方案的重点是利用分子量子自旋作为磁性分子/无机复合异质结中的活性元素的新型纳米器件。这项研究将由一个跨学科团队进行，成员包括加州大学伯克利分校和哈佛大学物理、化学和材料科学系的成员，以及IBM阿尔马登研究中心的显微镜小组。新的磁性分子将被合成，这些分子具有为特定设备特征量身定做的电子和自旋特性。将开发新的技术来控制这些分子，并将它们整合到设备应用的表面和界面配置中。我们将研究磁性分子与不同器件几何形状的无机表面相互作用的基本性质。这些活动的智力价值在于，将探索全新的纳米级自旋系统，提供进入新的物理机制和新的设备可能性的途径。将探索与巨磁电阻、自旋阀行为和自旋扭矩转换类似的分子，以及尚未在设备设置中观察到或评估的新分子现象。研究的更广泛影响在于教育和推广，以及对其他科学领域和工程界的影响。将在跨学科环境中为研究生、本科生和博士后研究员提供培训，其中包括通过与IBM Almaden研究中心的研究人员直接合作来接触行业。高级调查人员的宣传和教育努力将包括创建新的纳米科学和技术教育材料。新型磁性分子和制造具有可调磁性的耦合分子纳米结构的新技术的发展将影响广泛的科学和工程活动，包括自旋电子学、信息存储、量子信息处理和分子电子学。

This NIRT proposal focuses on new nanodevices that use molecular quantum spin as the active element in combined magnetic-molecule/inorganic heterostructures. The research will be carried out by an interdisciplinary team that includes members from the Physics, Chemistry, and Materials Science Departments of U.C. Berkeley and Harvard, as well as the Microscopy group at the IBM Almaden Research Center. New magnetic molecules will be synthesized that have electronic and spin properties tailored for particular device characteristics. New techniques will be developed to control these molecules and incorporate them into surface and interface configurations for device applications. Investigations will be made into the fundamental properties of magnetic molecules interacting with inorganic surfaces in various device geometries. Intellectual Merit of these activities lie in the fact that completely new nanoscale spin systems will be explored, providing access to new physical regimes and new device possibilities. Molecular analogs to giant magnetoresistance, spin-valve behavior, and spin-torque switching will be explored, as well as new molecular phenomena that has not yet been observed or evaluated in a device setting. Broader Impacts of the research lie in education and outreach, as well as in the impact on other scientific fields and the engineering community. Training will be provided to graduate students, undergraduates, and postdoctoral fellows in an interdisciplinary environment that includes a strong exposure to industry through direct collaboration with researchers at the IBM Almaden Research Center. Outreach and educational efforts by senior investigators will include the creation of new educational materials in nanoscience and technology. The development of new classes of magnetic molecules and new techniques to create coupled molecular nanostructures with tunable magnetic properties will impact a broad range of scientific and engineering activities, including spintronics, information storage, quantum information processing, and molecular electronics.