FOR 1154:  Towards Molecular Spintronics

• Subject Area: Computer Science, Systems and Electrical Engineering ; Chemistry ; Physics
• Term: from 2010 to 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 82921420

The Research Unit aims at the fundamental understanding and the experimental demonstration of spin electronic devices based on magnetic molecules. We will try to switch the spin transfer through magnetic molecules by changing the alignment of the molecular spins. This ambitious approach towards molecular spintronics combines two interdisciplinary research fields, organic electronics and molecular magnetism. Our endeavours are supposed to stimulate fruitful exchange between otherwise disjunct communities. This will help to understand a variety of fundamental phenomena and major physical effects as well as to unravel long-standing scientific problems and discrepancies. Our activities focus on: (1) Tailoring and fundamental characterisation of magnetic molecules: Magnetic molecules for implementation into devices will be synthesised and fundamentally investigated by theoretical methods and experimentally by scanning probe techniques as well as optical and magnetic measurements. Already at this stage basic compatibility aspects concerning device processing are taken into account.
(2) Fabrication, characterisation and optimisation of molecular thin films and interfaces: New deposition techniques to create suitable molecular films need to be developed for a variety of molecules. The structure, morphology and molecular orientation of the layers will be characterised and optimised. The experimental results will be complemented by theoretical predictions for properties of molecules on surfaces. For device integration, the molecular layers need to obey certain boundary conditions, such as long-term stability and process compatibility. Continuous feedback between the basic characterisation and the technology projects allows targeted and efficient synthesis of appropriate molecules and molecular films for device application.
(3) Device demonstration and on-chip integration: Rolled-up nanotechnology will be used to create vertically stacked spin valves. We aim, for the first time, at contacting the molecular layers by doped semiconductor electrodes. We will also realise a laterally stacked three-terminal device for large-scale integration purposes.

• DFG Programme: Research Units

Projects

• application coordinator (Applicant Zahn, Dietrich R. T. )
• Electron spin resonance and magnetic studies (Applicant Kataev, Vladislav )
• Electronic structure, transport, and collective effects in molecular layered systems (Applicants Kortus, Jens ;  Timm, Carsten )
• From the preparation of molecular layers and their (magneto-)optical investigation towards laterally stacked devices (Applicant Salvan, Georgeta )
• From the preparation of monomolecular layers to thin films of magnetic transition metal complexes towards their integration into spintronic devices (Applicants Lang, Heinrich ;  Rueffer, Tobias )
• Monolayers of Redox-active High-Spin Molecules on Conducting and Ferromagnetic Metals: Control of Self-assembly and Integration into Devices (Applicant Kersting, Berthold )
• Scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy of magnetic molecules (Applicants Hemker-Heß, Christian ;  Zahn, Dietrich R. T. )
• Spectroscopic studies of magnetic molecular materials and their interfaces (Applicants Knupfer, Martin ;  Zahn, Dietrich R. T. )
• Spin dynamics in single molecules and thin films studied by nuclear probe spectroscopy (Applicant Klauss, Hans-Henning )
• Vertical magneto-resistive devices made from hybrid metal/molecules/metal multi-layer systems (Applicant Schmidt, Oliver G. )
• Zentralprojekt (Applicant Zahn, Dietrich R. T. )

• Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Dietrich R. T. Zahn
• Deputy: Professorin Dr. Georgeta Salvan