Electron spins from a molecular perspective: an interview with Song Gao

Spin chemistry has emerged as an interdisciplinary field that focuses on electron spins in molecules and related applications in physics, chemistry, biology, materials science and information science. It will play a crucial role in technological innovations. The chemistry of spins is deeply related to the essence of chemical bonds, chemical catalysis, enzyme catalysis, optical and electromagnetic properties, quantum computation and quantum precision measurements. The related research is intersectional, cutting-edge and has a wide range of application prospects. National Science Review (NSR) recently interviewed Prof. Song Gao to discuss spin chemistry. Prof. Gao is a renowned inorganic chemist and an academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences. He is the president of Sun Yat-sen University and the founder of the Spin-X Institute of South China University of Technology. He is recognized as a leader in coordination chemistry and molecular magnetism, and has strong academic influence. Since 2008, he has served on the International Advisory Committee of International Conference on Molecule-Based Magnets, and organized and chaired its 2010 conference. Prof. Gao's primary research topics include molecular nanomagnets; the relationship between geometric structures, electronic structures and magnetism of molecules; and the spin states and reactivity of molecules.