Potential energy-driven spin manipulation via a controllable hydrogen ligand.

Area of Science:

• Surface science
• Quantum chemistry
• Molecular magnetism

Background:

• Spin-bearing molecules offer tunable properties for advanced electronic devices.
• Understanding spin state transitions is crucial for controlling molecular magnetism.
• Scanning probe microscopy can probe spin states but lacks insight into transition dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the mechanism of spin state switching in magnetic molecules.
• To demonstrate the use of functionalized scanning probes for spin manipulation.
• To explore the role of chemical environment in controlling molecular spin.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing a hydrogen-functionalized scanning probe tip to manipulate cobalt monohydride complexes on a boron nitride surface.
• Simultaneously tracking force and conductance during spin manipulation.
• Analyzing spin state changes by observing Kondo states and magnetocrystalline anisotropy.

Main Results:

• Observed switching between a spin-1/2 Kondo state and a spin-1 state upon hydrogen ligand proximity.
• Demonstrated that spin state changes occur when the system moves to a new potential energy surface defined by the hydrogen position.
• Showcased the effectiveness of chemically functionalized tips for adatom and molecule manipulation.

Conclusions:

• Chemically functionalized scanning probe tips are effective for manipulating molecular spin states.
• The position of a nearby ligand dictates the potential energy surface and thus the spin state.
• This work presents a new method for selectively tuning spin systems for potential applications.