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

该项目由材料研究部固态与材料化学项目和凝聚态物理项目支持，利用化学方法合成了排列在一维（1D）螺旋或之字形链或二维（2D）平面等不寻常结构中的原子。Manson教授通过各种测量技术来研究所得晶体，以评估其磁性，并与理论学家合作，帮助他们理解这些特性或酌情发展新的理论。因为他在合成过程中使用了带有不同电子数量的不同金属原子，新的磁相出现了，包括skyrmions。一个skyrmion可以被比作一个电子漩涡，它的精确排列取决于几个因素，Manson教授和他的团队正在研究这些因素，以了解更多。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的技术，包括自旋电子学和数据存储。通过这个项目，首席研究员提供了一个多样化和包容性的本科研究人员群体，有充分的机会参与实验；与合作者会面并互动；协助数据分析，准备稿件发表；帮助塑造未来的研究方向；并在会议和研讨会上展示他们的成果。该项目由材料研究部固态与材料化学项目和凝聚态物理项目支持，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1D链和2D层中的激发。关键是Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya （DM）相互作用，首席研究员曼森认为这是一个可调参数。这种可调性有望带来巨大的机会来发现包括skyrmion候选者在内的新相，这是一种在分子系统中尚未实现的现象。这些材料是在质子或非质子溶剂中合成的晶体，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的组合。对这些晶体进行了详细的实验研究，并辅以理论，以帮助我们理解潜在的物理学。预计这些概念可转移并与单分子磁体和强相关电子群落相关。此外，该项目汇集了广泛的材料设计和发现工作以及众多表征方法，以促进国内和国际合作，整合该领域最佳设施、设备和专业知识的资源，并为本科生研究、培训和教育提供独特的机会。核心是一个全方位的研究团队，专注于样品制备，光学表征和x射线结构测定。EWU学生有充足的机会参与实验；与合作者会面并互动；协助数据分析，准备稿件发表；帮助塑造未来的研究方向；并在会议和研讨会上展示他们的成果。为了这个项目，曼森教授建立了一个多元化的本科研究小组，主要由女性组成，这一群体在STEM领域的代表性很低。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值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.