Optically and electrically induced electron-spin transport in molecular systems

在分子水平上精确控制自旋-电子相互作用仍然是难以捉摸的。然而，它非常重要，因为它有可能影响整个纳米电子领域，以及信息技术行业小型化的持续挑战。这个快节奏的行业已经达到了纳米级（几个月前IBM发布了一款5纳米芯片）。然而，随着研究人员达到单分子水平，更多的挑战出现了。本项目旨在推进这一敏感领域的知识。这是一个强有力的多学科项目，它利用化学和物理方法的混合来克服我们对自旋电子相互作用的理解中的现有实验限制。我们将使用化学方法合成磁性分子和功能化的内嵌富勒烯物种，携带光学活性基团在几个频率，包括商业上可获得的光学频率为1.5 μ。在分子上添加光活性基团，在光脉冲之后提供通过或接近相邻自旋中心的电子流。此外，我们将在大块电极之间放置一个磁性分子。这提供了一个可以批量研究的超净系统，具有完美定义的磁性和电子元件的几何形状。然后可以将结果与mK温度下的传输实验进行比较。我们将使用先进的材料合成方法，包括异构纯物质的明确分子。我们将使用先进的材料表征技术，如紫外-可见光谱法，MALDI质谱法和纯化技术，如高效液相色谱法（HPLC）。此外，我们将使用电子顺磁共振（EPR）技术。我们有机会获得CW EPR和脉冲EPR与ns的时间分辨率。我们可以进入一个与磁场耦合的光腔。这将使我们能够探测具有光学活性部分的分子（例如含有Er离子的内嵌富勒烯），这些分子在辐照下具有电子转移活性。该项目超越了最先进的水平。首先，它独特地将分子磁体与内嵌富勒烯结合起来。这些混合材料是新颖的，并允许研究电子自旋相互作用与电荷转移过程。其次，我们的目标是在单分子水平上做到这一点。如果成功的话，我们的研究成果将对包括自旋相关传输（自旋电子学）和单分子电子学在内的几个关键技术产生影响。因此，该项目与EPSRC的几个领域保持一致，例如：-信息和通信技术（ICT）-物理科学-量子技术该项目涉及牛津大学材料系两个小组之间的密切合作，并汇集了化学合成，光学光谱和磁性研究的协同作用。它模糊了化学和物理之间的界限，并允许尖端材料科学研究与纳米技术的影响。

Exquisite control of spin-electron interactions at a molecular level is still elusive. It is however of great importance as it has the potential to affect the area of nanoelectronics as a whole, and the ongoing challenge for miniaturization in the Information technology industry. This fast-paced industry has already reached the nanoscale (a few-months ago IBM revealed a 5 nm chip). However, as researchers are reaching the single molecule level, more challenges arise.This project aims at advancing knowledge in this sensitive area. It is a strongly multidisciplinary project, which makes use of a mix of chemical and physical methods to overcome present experimental limitations in our understanding of spin-electron interactions. We shall use chemical methods for the synthesis of magnetic molecules and the functionalization of endohedral fullerene species that carry optically active groups at several frequencies, including the commercially accessible optical frequency of 1.5 mu. The addition of photoactive groups on a molecule, affords the flow of electrons through or close to the adjacent spin centre after a light pulse. In addition, we shall place a magnetic molecule between bulk electrodes. This affords an ultra-clean system that can be studied in bulk, with a perfectly defined geometry of the magnetic and electronic elements. The results can then be compared to transport experiments at mK temperatures. We shall use advanced methodologies for materials synthesis of well-defined molecules including isomerically pure species. We shall use advanced techniques for materials characterization such as UV-Vis spectroscopy, MALDI Mass Spectrometry and purification techniques such as high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). In addition, we shall use electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) techniques. We have access to CW EPR and to pulsed EPR with ns time resolution. We have access to an optical cavity coupled to magnetic fields. This will allow us to probe molecules with optically-active moieties (such as endohedral fullerenes containing Er ions) that see electron transfer activity under irradiation.The project goes beyond the state-of-the-art. Firstly it combines, uniquely, molecular magnets with endohedral fullerenes. These hybrid materials are novel and allow the study of electron spin interactions with charge transfer processes. Secondly, we aim to do this at the single molecule level. If successful, our results will impact on several key technologies including spin-dependent transport (spintronics) and single-molecule electronics.Hence the project aligns to several EPSRC areas such as:- Information and communications technologies (ICT) - Physical sciences- Quantum technologiesThe project involves a close collaboration between two groups in the Department of Materials, Oxford and brings together a synergy of chemical synthesis, optical spectroscopy and magnetic properties study. It blurs the borders between chemistry and physics and allows for cutting edge materials science research with nanotechnological implications.