RUI: DMR: Bespoke low-dimensional magnets: from chiral chains to skyrmion candidates

非技术概述在材料研究部固体与材料化学计划和凝聚态物理计划的支持下，利用化学方法合成了排列在一维(1D)螺旋或锯齿形链或二维(2D)平面等特殊结构中的原子。曼森教授通过各种测量技术研究得到的晶体，以评估它们的磁性，并与理论家合作，帮助他们理解这些性质或适当地开发新的理论。由于他使用了不同的金属原子和不同数量的电子，在合成过程中出现了新的磁相，包括Skyrmions。天空之星可以比作电子漩涡，其精确排列取决于几个因素，曼森教授和他的团队研究这些因素是为了了解更多。这是第一次在分子材料中产生这种现象。这种材料有可能彻底改变现有技术，包括自旋电子学和数据存储。通过这个项目，首席研究人员提供了一个多样化和包容性强的本科生研究人员小组，他们有充分的机会参与实验；会见合作者并与他们互动；协助数据分析和准备出版手稿；帮助确定未来的研究方向；并在会议和研讨会上展示他们的结果。在材料研究部固态和材料化学计划和凝聚态物理计划的支持下，Manson教授研究了具有交错/交替和手性拓扑以及通常缺乏反转中心的一维链和2D层中的激发。关键是Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya(DM)相互作用，首席研究员Manson认为它是一个可调的参数。这种可调性有望带来发现包括Skyrmion候选在内的新相的巨大机会，这一现象在分子系统中尚未实现。这些材料是在质子或非质子溶剂中使用顺磁性过渡金属离子和精心选择的阴离子和有机配体组合而成的晶体。这些晶体经过了详细的实验研究，并辅之以理论，以帮助我们理解潜在的物理。预计这些概念是可转移的，并与单分子磁体和强相关电子社区相关。此外，该项目结合了广泛的材料设计和发现工作以及许多表征方法，以促进国内和国际合作，整合该领域现有的最佳设施、设备和专业知识的资源，并为本科生的研究、培训和教育提供独特的机会。核心是一个包罗万象的研究团队，专注于样品制备、光学表征和X射线结构测定。EWU的学生有充分的机会参与实验；与合作者见面和互动；协助数据分析和准备出版手稿；帮助确定未来的研究方向；以及在会议和研讨会上展示他们的结果。对于这个项目，曼森教授建立了一个由女性组成的多元化的本科生研究小组，这一群体在STEM中的代表性很低。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Non-technical summaryWith this project, supported by the Solid State and Materials Chemistry Program and the Condensed Matter Physics Program in the Division of Materials Research, atoms arranged in unusual architectures such as one-dimensional (1D) spiral or zig-zag chains or two-dimensional (2D) planes are synthesized using chemical methods. Prof. Manson studies the resulting crystals by a variety of measurement techniques to assess their magnetic properties and collaborates with theorists to aid their understanding of these properties or develop new theories as appropriate. Because he uses different metal atoms with varying numbers of electrons during the synthesis new magnetic phases emerge, including skyrmions. A skyrmion can be likened to a vortex of electrons with precise alignments that depend on several factors, factors that Prof. Manson and his team study to learn more about. This is the first time this phenomenon is produced in molecular materials. Such materials have the potential to revolutionize existing technologies, including spintronics and data storage. Through this project the principal investigator provides a diverse and inclusive group of undergraduate researchers with ample opportunities to participate in experiments; meet and interact with collaborators; assist in data analysis and prepare manuscripts for publication; help shape future research directions; and present their results at conferences and workshops. Technical summaryWith this project, supported by the Solid State and Materials Chemistry Program and the Condensed Matter Physics Program in the Division of Materials Research, Prof. Manson examines the excitations in 1D chains and 2D layers that feature staggered/alternating and chiral topologies as well as those that generally lack inversion centers. Key to this is the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya (DM) interaction which principal investigator Manson posits it a tunable parameter. This tunability is expected to lead to great opportunity to discover novel phases including skyrmion candidates, a phenomenon not yet realized in molecular systems. These materials are synthesized as crystals in protic or aprotic solvents using combinations of paramagnetic transition metal ions and carefully chosen anions and organic ligands. These crystals are subjected to detailed experimental study complemented by theory to aid our understanding of the underlying physics. It is anticipated that these concepts are transferable and relevant to the single-molecule magnets and strongly-correlated electron communities. Additionally, the project brings together a wide-ranging materials design and discovery effort as well as numerous characterization methods to foster national and international collaboration, coalescing the resources of the best facilities, equipment, and expertise available in the field, as well as provide unique opportunities for undergraduate research, training and education. At the core is an all-inclusive research team focused on sample preparation, optical characterization and X-ray structure determinations. EWU students have ample opportunities to participate in experiments; meet and interact with collaborators; assist in data analysis and prepare manuscripts for publication; help shape future research directions; and present their results at conferences and workshops. For this project Prof. Manson has established a diverse undergraduate research group that consists mostly of women, a group largely underrepresented in STEM.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.