PhD thesis defense: spin and charge control of single molecules for atomic scale quantum coherence

CIC nanoGUNE Seminars

Speaker

Leonard Edens
CIC nanoGUNE

When

2025/04/07
12:00

Place

Salón de Grados, Doors 230-231, Faculty of Psychology, Avenida Tolosa 70

Host

Nacho Pascual

Add to calendar

iCal

The spin degree of freedom in individual molecules has been proposed as a platform for atomic-scale quantum computing. The required unpaired electrons are often encountered in metal-organic compounds, but also in fully organic species such as nanographenes, which can host radical states. Considerable progress has been made recently in the catalytic synthesis of such structures on noble metals, and the a priori design of spin states through tailor-made geometries. However, spin quantum coherence is generally diminished when interfaced with conductive surfaces due to the Kondo effect, and magnetism can even be destroyed entirely by charge transfer. In this thesis, I present several rationales for how the gas-phase electronic properties of isolated molecules can be protected from, or even enhanced by these interactions. To this end, low-temperature scanning probe spectroscopy is employed to study molecular spins, of several chemical families, supported by functional surfaces, such as insulators and ferromagnets, at the intramolecular scale. As a next step, a cutting-edge spectroscopic technique, which allows quantum-coherent manipulation of single spins on surfaces, is implemented and characterized.