Investigation of magnetic states in molecular systems in cryogenic environments

Thesis

The aim of this Thesis is to increase the fundamental understanding of magnetic molecules, as the ultimate miniaturisation of the electronic component. The considerable interest in molecular nanoscale systems for quantum technologies is hampered by poor understanding of their behaviour when introduced into electronic nanodevices. We investigate the magnetic and electronic states of molecular systems at millikelvin temperature, with the aim of clarifying their behaviour in extreme conditions, and to develop novel instrumentation to further this cause. We do so by concentrating on single-molecule magnets and molecular graphene nanoribbons, first addressed in single crystals and then as single molecules in electronic nanodevices. We observe clear signatures of true magnetism in graphene nanoribbons and reveal connections between the magnetic anisotropy of molecules and their transport properties. The Thesis ultimately contributes to the unification of magnetic and conductive molecular systems and thus serves to advance the field of molecular spintronics.

Authors: Sopp, S

• Type of award: DPhil
• Level of award: Doctoral
• Awarding institution: University of Oxford
• Language: English
• Keywords: spintronics; magnetism; nanoscience; quantum science; low-temperature; electronic transport; spin transport; single-molecule magnets; graphene nanoribbons
• Subjects: Quantum solids; Materials science; Coordination compounds--Magnetic properties; Engineering; Physics; Electronic instruments, Digital