Photocontrol of the Magnetic Response of Molecular Magnets at Interfaces

非技术摘要：聚合物类分子网络比常见的固态材料更柔软。 当一个分子磁铁化学连接到一个光活性分子网络，温度的变化和光照产生的界面附近的磁畴应变。 这个单一的研究者奖允许在新的纳米级环境中研究这些过程，这些环境在宏观晶体中不可用。 研究结果为探索光控磁器件在自旋电子学中的新应用提供了基础。 该研究是跨学科和国际范围内，和初级研究人员，包括本科生和研究生，在广泛的实验，理论和计算技能的培训，同时与一个多元化的团队工作。 斯洛伐克的一个国际团队密切参与了实验，这种富有成效的合作为每个人提供了科学和文化接触。 有组织的外展活动侧重于K-8学生和教师，动手活动旨在提高所有参与者的科学内容知识。技术摘要：分子基磁体的性质可以通过合成协议进行调整，并通过外部刺激如温度，电场/磁场，压力/应变和光照射进行控制。 这个单一的研究者研究的一个目标是调查的机制，管理的纳米尺寸的配位聚合物的异质结构的磁响应的光控，其中一个磁性组件是配对的光活性成分。 自旋极化小角中子散射（SANS）技术非常适合于检测和测量这些异质结构纳米粒子的两个组件之间的界面处和附近的磁性剖面的变化。 另一个目标是转移置于纳米织构的亚稳态形态中的自旋交叉复合物的光活性状态。 通过将分子限制在纳米相环境中并调节基底的影响，纳米尺度域的协同性被修改以允许在较高温度下的光开关。 扫描隧道光谱是这些表面研究的主要工具，实验结果与专注于新材料计算机设计的内部计算团队交互共享。这些结果直接影响未来的研究，以确定适用于自旋电子应用的光开关纳米级分子排列。

Non-Technical Abstract:Polymer-like molecular networks are softer than common solid-state materials. When a molecular magnet is chemically attached to a photoactive molecular network, changes of temperature and irradiation by light generate strains on the magnetic domains near the interface. This single investigator award allows for the study of these processes in new, nano-scaled environments that are not available in macroscopic crystals. The results provide a basis for exploring light-controlled, magnetic devices for new applications in spintronics. The research is interdisciplinary and international in scope, and junior researchers, comprised of undergraduate and graduate students, are trained in a wide-range of experimental, theoretical, and computational skills while working with a diverse team. An international team in Slovakia is intimately involved in the experiments, and this productive collaboration provides scientific and cultural exposure for everyone. Organized outreach activities focus on K-8 students and teachers, and hands-on activities are designed to enhance the science content knowledge of all participants.Technical Abstract:The properties of molecule-based magnets can be tuned by synthesis protocols and controlled by external stimuli such as temperature, electric/magnetic fields, pressure/strain, and irradiation by light. One goal of this single investigator research is to investigate the mechanisms governing the photocontrol of the magnetic response of nano-sized heterostructures of coordination polymers, where one magnetic component is mated to a photo-active constituent. Spin-polarized small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) techniques are well-suited to detect and measure the changes of the magnetic profiles at and near the interface between the two components of these heterostructured nanoparticles. Another goal is to shift the photoactive states of spin-crossover complexes placed in nano-textured, metastable morphologies. By restricting the molecules to a nanophase environment and tuning the influence of the substrate, the cooperativity of the nano-scaled domains is modified to allow photo-switching at higher temperatures. Scanning tunneling spectroscopy is the main tool for these surface studies, and the experimental results are interactively shared with an in-house computational team that is focused on the in-silico design of new materials. The results directly impact future investigations to define photo-switchable nano-scaled molecular arrangements suitable for spintronic applications.