Electric field control of spins in molecular magnets

Journal article

Coherent control of individual molecular spins in nanodevices is a pivotal prerequisite for fulfilling the potential promised by molecular spintronics. By applying electric field pulses during time-resolved electron spin resonance measurements, we measure the sensitivity of the spin in several antiferromagnetic molecular nanomagnets to external electric fields. We find a linear electric field dependence of the spin states in Cr7Mn, an antiferromagnetic ring with a ground-state spin of S ¼ 1, and in a frustrated Cu3 triangle, both with coefficients of about 2 rad s−1=V m−1. Conversely, the antiferromagnetic ring Cr7Ni, isomorphic with Cr7Mn but with S ¼ 1=2, does not exhibit a detectable effect. We propose that the spinelectric field coupling may be used for selectively controlling individual molecules embedded in nanodevices.

Authors: Liu, J; Mrozek, J; Myers, WK; Timco, GA; Winpenny, REP

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: American Physical Society
• Journal: Physical Review Letters
• Volume: 122
• Issue: 3
• Article number: 037202
• Publication date: 2019-01-25
• Acceptance date: 2018-12-26
• DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.122.037202
• EISSN: 1079-7114
• ISSN: 0031-9007