Single Molecule Magnets

该奖项由无机，生物无机和有机金属（IBO）化学计划支持教授大卫N。亨德里克森在加州大学圣地亚哥分校，以促进我们的理解和能力，控制单分子磁体（SMM）的量子特性。 使用传统的制造技术将磁性器件小型化到纳米尺寸具有严重的局限性，主要与难以实现具有明确结构、组成和特性的单分散纳米磁体有关。 由于这个原因，人们对基于分子的方法越来越感兴趣，其中磁性纳米结构在环境温度下在溶液中化学合成。 SMM使以前无法访问的磁性纳米结构相关的量子效应的基础研究。 例如，这些分子纳米磁体首次允许研究磁化的量子隧穿。 单个分子磁体的磁矩（自旋）通过量子隧道而不是通过热激活来改变其磁矩的方向，从而从“向上自旋”改变为“向下自旋”。 研究旨在解决与纳米磁性相关的一些重要的基本问题，并探索在未来设备中实现SMM的途径。SMM的性质取决于许多因素，例如基态的自旋、形状、化学组成、对称性/各向异性以及与其他SMM的接近度。 正在准备新的SMM，着眼于调整控制磁化动力学性质的各种因素。 磁化隧穿的机制还没有很好的理解。 单分子磁体提供了纳米级数据存储的潜力。 更重要的是，它们可以作为量子计算设备。 合作涉及三个不同国家的几个物理小组和几个化学小组。 研究生将接受物理方法的高水平培训，特别是与磁性有关的方法。

This award by the Inorganic, Bioinorganic, and Organomeallic (IBO) Chemistry Program supports work by Professor David N. Hendrickson at the University of California, San Diego, to advance our understanding and ability to control the quantum properties of single-molecule magnets (SMMs). The miniaturization of magnetic devices to the nanometer size using conventional fabrication techniques has serious limitations, chiefly associated with the difficulty in realizing monodisperse nanomagnets with well-defined structure, composition and characteristics. For this reason, there is a growing interest in a molecule-based approach whereby magnetic nanostructures are synthesized chemically in solution at ambient temperatures. SMMs enable fundamental studies of quantum effects associated with magnetic nanostructures that have previously been inaccessible. For instance, these molecular nanomagnets allow for the first time the study of quantum tunneling of magnetization. The magnetic moment (spin) of an individual molecular magnet changes direction from "spin up" to "spin down" by quantum tunneling, not by being thermally activated to change the direction of its magnetic moment. Research has been designed to address some of the important fundamental questions related to nanomagnetism, and to explore avenues for the implementation of SMMs in future devices. The properties of SMMs depend on many factors, e.g. spin of the ground state, shape, chemical composition, symmetry/anisotropy, and proximity to other SMMs. New SMMs are being prepared with an eye to adjusting the various factors controlling the nature of magnetization dynamics. The mechanism of magnetization tunneling is not well understood. Single-molecule magnets offer the potential for data storage on the nanoscale. Even more importantly they could serve as quantum computing devices. Collaborations involve several physics groups in three different countries and several chemistry groups. Graduate students will receive a high level training in physical methods, particularly those relating to magnetism.