Single-molecule magnet

Because of single-molecule magnets' magnetic anisotropy, the magnetic moment has usually only two stable orientations antiparallel to each other, separated by an energy barrier. The stable orientations define the molecule's so called “easy axis”. At finite temperature, there is a finite probability for the magnetization to flip and reverse its direction. Identical to a superparamagnet, the mean time between two flips is called the Néel relaxation time and is given by the following Néel–Arrhenius equation:{{cite journal|first=L. |last=Néel|title=Théorie du traînage magnétique des ferromagnétiques en grains fins avec applications aux terres cuites|journal=Ann. Géophys.|volume=5|pages=99–136|year=1949}} (in French; an English translation is available in {{cite book|title=Selected Works of Louis Néel|editor-first=N.|editor-last=Kurti|publisher=Gordon and Breach|year=1988|isbn=978-2-88124-300-4|pages=407–427}}). {{verify source |date=September 2019 |reason=This ref was deleted Special:Diff/913581705 by a bug in VisualEditor and later restored by a bot from the original cite located at Special:Permalink/905725613 cite #1 - verify the cite is accurate and delete this template. User:GreenC bot/Job 18}}

$\backslash tau^\{-1\}\; =\; \backslash tau\_0^\{-1\}\backslash exp\backslash left\; (\; \backslash frac\{-U\_\{eff\}\}\{k\_BT\}\; \backslash right\; )$

where:

• τ is the magnetic relaxation time, or the average amount of time that it takes for the molecule's magnetization to randomly flip as a result of thermal fluctuations
• τ₀ is a length of time, characteristic of the material, called the attempt time or attempt period (its reciprocal is called the attempt frequency); its typical value is between 10⁻⁹ and 10⁻¹⁰ second
• U_eff is the energy barrier associated with the magnetization moving from its initial easy axis direction, through a “hard plane”, to the other easy axis direction. The barrier U_eff is generally reported in cm⁻¹ or in kelvins.
• k_B is the Boltzmann constant
• T is the temperature

This magnetic relaxation time, τ, can be anywhere from a few nanoseconds to years or much longer.

The so-called magnetic blocking temperature, T_B, is defined as the temperature below which the relaxation of the magnetization becomes slow compared to the time scale of a particular investigation technique.{{cite journal | doi = 10.1039/a908254i | issue=9 | title=Single-molecule magnets based on iron(iii) oxo clusters | year=2000 | journal=Chemical Communications | pages=725–732 | last1 = Gatteschi | first1 = Dante}}. Historically, the blocking temperature for single-molecule magnets has been defined as the temperature at which the molecule's magnetic relaxation time, τ, is 100 seconds. This definition is the current standard for comparison of single-molecule magnet properties, but otherwise is not technologically significant. There is typically a correlation between increasing an SMM's blocking temperature and energy barrier. The average blocking temperature for SMMs is 4K.{{Cite journal|last1=Hao|first1=Hua|last2=Zheng|first2=XiaoHong|last3=Jia|first3=Ting|last4=Zeng|first4=Zhi|date=2015-06-18|title=Room temperature memory device using single-molecule magnets|url=https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2015/ra/c5ra07774e|journal=RSC Advances|language=en|volume=5|issue=67|pages=54667–54671|doi=10.1039/C5RA07774E|bibcode=2015RSCAd...554667H |issn=2046-2069}} Dy-metallocenium salts are the most recent SMM to achieve the highest temperature of magnetic hysteresis, greater than that of liquid nitrogen.

The magnetic coupling between the spins of the metal ions is mediated by superexchange interactions and can be described by the following isotropic Heisenberg Hamiltonian:

:

where $J\_\{i,j\}$ is the coupling constant between spin i (operator $\backslash mathbf\{S\}\_i$) and spin j (operator $\backslash mathbf\{S\}\_j$). For positive J the coupling is called ferromagnetic (parallel alignment of spins) and for negative J the coupling is called antiferromagnetic (antiparallel alignment of spins): a high spin ground state, a high zero-field-splitting (due to high magnetic anisotropy), and negligible magnetic interaction between molecules.

The combination of these properties can lead to an energy barrier, so that at low temperatures the system can be trapped in one of the high-spin energy wells.[http://www.ifw-dresden.de/institutes/iff/research/TMO/frustrated-magnets Frustrated Magnets] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080314110559/http://www.ifw-dresden.de/institutes/iff/research/TMO/frustrated-magnets|date=March 14, 2008}}, Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research, Dresden, Germany.[http://obelix.physik.uni-bielefeld.de/~schnack/molmag/introduction.html Molecular Magnetism Web] Introduction page.[https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2000/03/000327084104.htm ScienceDaily (Mar. 27, 2000)] article Several New Single-Molecule Magnets Discovered.[http://www.npl.co.uk/server.php?show=ConWebDoc.1175 National Physical Laboratory (UK)] Home > Science + Technology > Quantum Phenomena > Nanophysics > Research – article Molecular Magnets.

A single-molecule magnet can have a positive or negative magnetic moment, and the energy barrier between these two states greatly determines the molecule's relaxation time. This barrier depends on the total spin of the molecule's ground state and on its magnetic anisotropy. The latter quantity can be studied with EPR spectroscopy.{{Cite journal|last1=Cirera|first1=Jordi|last2=Ruiz|first2=Eliseo|last3=Alvarez|first3=Santiago|last4=Neese|first4=Frank|last5=Kortus|first5=Jens|date=2009|title=How to Build Molecules with Large Magnetic Anisotropy|url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/chem.200801608|journal=Chemistry – A European Journal|language=en|volume=15|issue=16|pages=4078–4087|doi=10.1002/chem.200801608|pmid=19248077 |issn=1521-3765}}

The performance of single-molecule magnets is typically defined by two parameters: the effective barrier to slow magnetic relaxation, U_eff, and the magnetic blocking temperature, T_B. While these two variables are linked, only the latter variable, T_B, directly reflects the performance of the single-molecule magnet in practical use. In contrast, U_eff, the thermal barrier to slow magnetic relaxation, only correlates to T_B when the molecule's magnetic relaxation behavior is perfectly Arrhenius in nature.

The table below lists representative and record 100-s magnetic blocking temperatures and U_eff values that have been reported for single-molecule magnets.

Abbreviations: OAc=acetate, Cp^ttt=1,2,4‐tri(tert‐butyl)cyclopentadienide, Cp^Me5= 1,2,3,4,5-penta(methyl)cyclopentadienide, Cp^iPr4H= 1,2,3,4-tetra(isopropyl)cyclopentadienide, Cp^iPr4Me= 1,2,3,4-tetra(isopropyl)-5-(methyl)cyclopentadienide, Cp^iPr4Et= 1-(ethyl)-2,3,4,5-tetra(isopropyl)cyclopentadienide, Cp^iPr5= 1,2,3,4,5-penta(isopropyl)cyclopentadienide

*indicates parameters from magnetically dilute samples{{Cite journal|last1=Giansiracusa|first1=Marcus J.|last2=Kostopoulos|first2=Andreas K.|last3=Collison|first3=David|last4=Winpenny|first4=Richard E. P.|last5=Chilton|first5=Nicholas F.|date=2019-06-13|title=Correlating blocking temperatures with relaxation mechanisms in monometallic single-molecule magnets with high energy barriers (Ueff > 600 K)|url=https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2019/cc/c9cc02421b|journal=Chemical Communications|language=en|volume=55|issue=49|pages=7025–7028|doi=10.1039/C9CC02421B|pmid=31066737|s2cid=147706997 |issn=1364-548X}}

File:Ferritin.png]]

Metal clusters formed the basis of the first decade-plus of single-molecule magnet research, beginning with the archetype of single-molecule magnets, "Mn₁₂". This complex is a polymetallic manganese (Mn) complex having the formula [Mn₁₂O₁₂(OAc)₁₆(H₂O)₄], where OAc stands for acetate. It has the remarkable property of showing an extremely slow relaxation of their magnetization below a blocking temperature. [Mn₁₂O₁₂(OAc)₁₆(H₂O)₄]·4H₂O·2AcOH, which is called "Mn₁₂-acetate" is a common form of this used in research.{{cite journal|doi=10.1016/S0277-5387(03)00173-6|last1=Yang|year=2003|first1=E|last2=Harden|first2=Nicholas|last3=Wernsdorfer|first3=Wolfgang|last4=Zakharov|first4=Lev|last5=Brechin|first5=Euan K.|last6=Rheingold|first6=Arnold L.|last7=Christou|first7=George|last8=Hendrickson|first8=David N.|page=1857|volume=22|journal=Polyhedron |title=Mn₄ single-molecule magnets with a planar diamond core and S=9|issue=14–17}}

Single-molecule magnets are also based on iron clusters because they potentially have large spin states. In addition, the biomolecule ferritin is also considered a nanomagnet. In the cluster Fe₈Br the cation Fe₈ stands for [Fe₈O₂(OH)₁₂(tacn)₆]⁸⁺, with tacn representing 1,4,7-triazacyclononane.

The ferrous cube complex [Fe₄(sae)₄(MeOH)₄] was the first example of a single-molecule magnet involving an Fe(II) cluster, and the core of this complex is a slightly distorted cube with Fe and O atoms on alternating corners.{{cite journal |author1=Oshio, H. |author2=Hoshino, N. |author3=Ito, T. |title=Superparamagnetic Behavior in an Alkoxo-Bridged Iron(II) Cube |journal=J. Am. Chem. Soc. |year=2000 |volume=122 |pages=12602–12603 |doi=10.1021/ja002889p |issue=50|bibcode=2000JAChS.12212602O }} Remarkably, this single-molecule magnet exhibits non-collinear magnetism, in which the atomic spin moments of the four Fe atoms point in opposite directions along two nearly perpendicular axes.{{cite journal |author1=Oshio, H. |author2=Hoshino, N. |author3=Ito, T. |author4=Nakano, M. |title=Single-Molecule Magnets of Ferrous Cubes: Structurally Controlled Magnetic Anisotropy |journal=J. Am. Chem. Soc. |year=2004 |volume=126 |pages=8805–8812 |doi=10.1021/ja0487933 |pmid=15250734 |issue=28|bibcode=2004JAChS.126.8805O }} Theoretical computations showed that approximately two magnetic electrons are localized on each Fe atom, with the other atoms being nearly nonmagnetic, and the spin–orbit-coupling potential energy surface has three local energy minima with a magnetic anisotropy barrier just below 3 meV.{{cite journal |author1=Manz, T. A. |title=Methods for Computing Accurate Atomic Spin Moments for Collinear and Noncollinear Magnetism in Periodic and Nonperiodic Materials |author2=Sholl, D. S. |journal=J. Chem. Theory Comput. |year=2011 |volume=7 |pages=4146–4164 |doi=10.1021/ct200539n |pmid=26598359 |issue=12}}

File:Hard disk.jpg thin films to coat hard disks.]]There are many discovered types and potential uses.{{cite journal|last1=Cavallini|first1=Massimiliano|last2=Facchini|first2=Massimo|last3=Albonetti|first3=Cristiano|last4=Biscarini|first4=Fabio|year=2008|title=Single molecule magnets: from thin films to nano-patterns|journal=Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics|volume=10|issue=6|pages=784–93|bibcode=2008PCCP...10..784C|doi=10.1039/b711677b|pmid=18231680|hdl=11380/963240}}[http://www.rsc.org/Publishing/Journals/dt/News/b716355jpersp.asp Beautiful new single molecule magnets], 26 March 2008 – summary of the article {{cite journal|last1=Milios|first1=Constantinos J.|last2=Piligkos|first2=Stergios|last3=Brechin|first3=Euan K.|year=2008|title=Ground state spin-switching via targeted structural distortion: twisted single-molecule magnets from derivatised salicylaldoximes|journal=Dalton Transactions|issue=14|pages=1809–17|doi=10.1039/b716355j|pmid=18369484}} Single-molecule magnets represent a molecular approach to nanomagnets (nanoscale magnetic particles).

Due to the typically large, bi-stable spin anisotropy, single-molecule magnets promise the realization of perhaps the smallest practical unit for magnetic memory, and thus are possible building blocks for a quantum computer. Consequently, many groups have devoted great efforts into synthesis of additional single-molecule magnets. Single-molecule magnets have been considered as potential building blocks for quantum computers.{{Cite journal|last1=Stepanenko|first1=Dimitrije|last2=Trif|first2=Mircea|last3=Loss|first3=Daniel|date=2008-10-01|title=Quantum computing with molecular magnets|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0020169308001655|journal=Inorganica Chimica Acta|series=Protagonists in Chemistry: Dante Gatteschi (Part II )|language=en|volume=361|issue=14|pages=3740–3745|doi=10.1016/j.ica.2008.02.066|issn=0020-1693|arxiv=cond-mat/0011415}} A single-molecule magnet is a system of many interacting spins with clearly defined low-lying energy levels. The high symmetry of the single-molecule magnet allows for a simplification of the spins that can be controllable in external magnetic fields. Single-molecule magnets display strong anisotropy, a property which allows a material to assume a variation of properties in different orientations. Anisotropy ensures that a collection of independent spins would be advantageous for quantum computing applications. A large amount of independent spins compared to a singular spin, permits the creation of a larger qubit and therefore a larger faculty of memory. Superposition and interference of the independent spins also allows for further simplification of classical computation algorithms and queries.

Theoretically, quantum computers can overcome the physical limitations presented by classical computers by encoding and decoding quantum states. Single-molecule magnets have been utilized for the Grover algorithm, a quantum search theory.{{Cite journal|last1=Leuenberger|first1=Michael N.|last2=Loss|first2=Daniel|date=2001-04-12|title=Quantum computing in molecular magnets|url=https://www.nature.com/articles/35071024|journal=Nature|language=en|volume=410|issue=6830|pages=789–793|doi=10.1038/35071024|pmid=11298441|issn=1476-4687|arxiv=cond-mat/0011415|bibcode=2001Natur.410..789L|s2cid=4373008}} The quantum search problem typically requests for a specific element to be retrieved from an unordered database. Classically the element would be retrieved after N/2 attempts, however a quantum search utilizes superpositions of data in order to retrieve the element, theoretically reducing the search to a single query. Single molecular magnets are considered ideal for this function due to their cluster of independent spins. A study conducted by Leuenberger and Loss, specifically utilized crystals to amplify the moment of the single spin molecule magnets Mn₁₂ and Fe₈. Mn₁₂ and Fe₈ were both found to be ideal for memory storage with a retrieval time of approximately 10⁻¹⁰ seconds.

Another approach to information storage with SMM Fe₄ involves the application of a gate voltage for a state transition from neutral to anionic. Using electrically gated molecular magnets offers the advantage of control over the cluster of spins during a shortened time scale. The electric field can be applied to the SMM using a tunneling microscope tip or a strip-line. The corresponding changes in conductance are unaffected by the magnetic states, proving that information storage could be performed at much higher temperatures than the blocking temperature. The specific mode of information transfer includes DVD to another readable medium, as shown with Mn₁₂ patterned molecules on polymers.{{Cite journal|last1=Cavallini|first1=Massimiliano|last2=Gomez-Segura|first2=Jordi|last3=Ruiz-Molina|first3=Daniel|last4=Massi|first4=Massimiliano|last5=Albonetti|first5=Cristiano|last6=Rovira|first6=Concepció|last7=Veciana|first7=Jaume|last8=Biscarini|first8=Fabio|date=2005|title=Magnetic Information Storage on Polymers by Using Patterned Single-Molecule Magnets|url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ange.200461554|journal=Angewandte Chemie|volume=117|issue=6|pages=910–914|doi=10.1002/ange.200461554|bibcode=2005AngCh.117..910C |issn=1521-3757}}

Another application for SMMs is in magnetocaloric refrigerants . A machine learning approach using experimental data has been able to predict novel SMMs that would have large entropy changes, and therefore more suitable for magnetic refrigeration. Three hypothetical SMMs are proposed for experimental synthesis:Cr2Gd2(OAc)5+, Mn2Gd2(OAc)5+, [Fe4Gd6(O3PCH2Ph)6(O2CtBu)14(MeCN)2].{{Cite journal|last1=Holleis|first1=Ludwig|last2=Shivaram|first2=B. S.|last3=Balachandran|first3=Prasanna V.|date=2019-06-03|title=Machine learning guided design of single-molecule magnets for magnetocaloric applications|url=https://aip.scitation.org/doi/10.1063/1.5094553|journal=Applied Physics Letters|volume=114|issue=22|pages=222404|doi=10.1063/1.5094553|bibcode=2019ApPhL.114v2404H|s2cid=197477060 |issn=0003-6951}} The main SMM characteristics that contribute to the entropy properties include dimensionality and the coordinating ligands.

In addition, single-molecule magnets have provided physicists with useful test-beds for the study of quantum mechanics. Macroscopic quantum tunneling of the magnetization was first observed in Mn₁₂O₁₂, characterized by evenly spaced steps in the hysteresis curve.{{Cite journal|last1=Gatteschi|first1=Dante|last2=Sessoli|first2=Roberta|date=2003-01-20|title=Quantum Tunneling of Magnetization and Related Phenomena in Molecular Materials|journal=Angewandte Chemie International Edition|volume=42|issue=3|pages=268–297|doi=10.1002/anie.200390099|pmid=12548682}} The periodic quenching of this tunneling rate in the compound Fe₈ has been observed and explained with geometric phases.{{Cite journal|last=Wernsdorfer|first=W.|date=1999-04-02|title=Quantum Phase Interference and Parity Effects in Magnetic Molecular Clusters|journal=Science|volume=284|issue=5411|pages=133–135|doi=10.1126/science.284.5411.133|pmid=10102810|bibcode=1999Sci...284..133W}}

• Ferromagnetism
• Antiferromagnetism
• Magnetic anisotropy
• Single-molecule experiment
• Magnetism
• Superparamagnetism
• Magnetochemistry

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.molmag.de/ Molecular Magnetism Web], Jürgen Schnack

{{Magnetic states}}

Category:Condensed matter physics

Category:Quantum magnetism

Category:Types of magnets