Quantum sensing with molecular spins
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Updated: Oct 31, 2026

Compact Quantum Dots for Single-molecule Imaging
Published on: October 9, 2012
Claudio Bonizzoni1,2, Matteo Lanza1,2, Alberto Ghirri2
1Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiche, Informatiche, Matematiche, Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, via G. Campi 213/A, 41125 Modena, Italy. marco.affronte@unimore.it.
Abstract:
Molecular spins have shown genuine quantum features, such as a sufficiently long coherence time and quantum correlation (entanglement), thus emerging as suitable candidates for quantum technologies. Recently they have been tested as quantum sensors by tailoring the magnetic quantum features at the molecular level and exploiting different strategies for their selective binding to functional groups or for their arrangement in 2D or 3D molecular architectures. Specific protocols for sensing, including microwave pulse sequences and combined microwave-optical manipulation and readout, have been tested and optimized to detect tiny magnetic field signals or other physical quantities, as well as for determination of structural features of bio-molecules or recognition of different chemical analytes. These results open different scenarios for applications ranging from probing intrinsic features of biomolecules, incorporation in scalable electronic circuits to the addressing of single molecules. Here we present a snapshot of this emerging research area.
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