Molecular Flip Flops: Spin Switching by Intramolecular Feed Back

分子是最小的结构，可以用原子精度和可预测的性质来设计和建造。它们对电或光刺激的反应以及它们定制设计的化学和物理功能使它们成为开发用于信息处理、能量转换和分子机器的新型设备的独特候选者。迄今为止，大多数功能分子单元都是由光响应分子开关（光致变色化合物）控制和驱动的。在这个项目中，我们探索并进一步发展了一种基于分子内反馈的新原理。这种新方法开辟了许多应用领域，如分子自旋电子学、忆阻器和自旋催化。

Molecules are the smallest constructions that can be designed and built with atomic precision and predictable properties. Their response to electrical or optical stimuli and their custom-designed chemical and physical functionality make them unique candidates to develop new classes of devices for information processing, energy conversion and molecular machines. The majority of functional molecular units to date has been controlled and powered by light-responsive molecular switches (photochromic compounds). In this project, we explore and further develop a new principle that is based on intramolecular feedback. The novel approach opens a number of applications such as molecular spintronics, memristors and spin catalysis.