Molecular Magnets Based on Graphenes and Carbon Nanotubes

Molecular magnets are demonstrated to provide a promising way to realize nanometer-scale structures with a stable spin orientation. Herein, first a description of conventional molecular magnets coupled with sp² carbon materials, such as carbon nanotubes and graphenes, is given. Then, progress on ferromagnetism in sp² carbon nanomaterials due to the existence of defects or topological structures as the spin units, which makes the sp² materials themselves act as a novel class of molecular magnets, is reviewed, and a scheme of controllable synthesis of the molecular magnets at the sheared ends of carbon nanotubes is proposed. To conclude, remarks on some challenges and perspectives in the synthesis of carbon nanotube arrays with orderly sheared ends as integrated molecular magnets are provided.