Odd-electron pi-systems with paramagnetic metal centres as molecular magnets

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The invention of molecular magnets makes it possible to craft atomically-precise magnetic systems, including molecular equivalents of 'regular-life'-sized magnets. Molecular magnetic compounds are used in medical imaging where they are employed as MRI contrast agents and are routinely used to visualise the structure of internal organs and other bodily structures, as well as tumours. Molecular magnetic clusters also find application in cryogenics, where demagnetisation-magnetisation cycles allows entropy-driven heat absorption. This can be used to cool systems to the microkelvin regime - to millionths of a degree above absolute zero.A more futuristic application of molecular magnetic systems is in quantum computing, which requires controlled organisation of and communication between 'quantum units'. One example of such quantum units is the atoms of specific elements, e.g. copper. These copper atoms act as tiny magnets. Just as a magnetic field is generated by an ordinary sized magnet, the atoms generate their own magnetic field. The direction of the magnetic field generated by each copper atom can change direction in an absolute sense (e.g. it can go from 'up' to 'down'). If two or more 'quantum units' are coupled in series, the direction of the magnetic field associated with each atom can also change direction in a relative sense - in comparison with other nucleus-contingent magnetic fields. The aim of this project is to design and synthesise molecular frameworks which allow simultaneous communication between the magnetic fields generated by nuclei coupled in series. Systematic comparison of the capacity of different molecular frameworks to mediate communication between these atom-contingent magnetic fields across different length scales will afford fundamental understanding of how these interactions occur. This new understanding can be applied to the synthesis of better molecular frameworks for quantum computing applications.This project falls within the EPSRC physical sciences research area. This project will be under the supervision of Professor Harry L. Anderson (Chemistry, Oxford) and Professor Lapo Bogani (Materials, Oxford) in collaboration with Professor Christiane Timmel (Chemistry, Oxford).