Graphene spintronic devices with molecular nanomagnets

Area of Science:

• Condensed Matter Physics
• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Graphene's surface is amenable to grafting nano-objects, making it promising for device and sensing applications.
• Magnetic molecules offer potential for advanced data storage and quantum computing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and realize a novel device for electrically detecting the magnetization reversal of magnetic molecules near graphene.
• To investigate the magnetoconductivity signal and magnetic anisotropy of TbPc(2) molecules on a graphene nanoconstriction.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a graphene nanoconstriction device.
• Decoration of the graphene nanoconstriction with terbium phthalocyanine (TbPc(2)) magnetic molecules.
• Electrical measurement of magnetoconductivity to detect molecular spin reversal.

Main Results:

• A significant magnetoconductivity signal of up to 20% was observed for the spin reversal of TbPc(2) molecules.
• The results revealed the uniaxial magnetic anisotropy of the TbPc(2) quantum magnets.
• The device demonstrated sensitivity at the single-molecule level, functioning as a field-effect nanotransistor.

Conclusions:

• The developed graphene-based device enables sensitive electrical detection of single-molecule magnetic transitions.
• This technology holds promise for future applications in molecular spintronics and quantum sensing.