Development and Investigation of Photoswitchable Molecular Magnets Based on Quinonoid Ligands

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Biprajit Sarkar; Professor Dr. Joris van Slageren
• Subject Area: Inorganic Molecular Chemistry - Synthesis and Characterisation
• Term: from 2012 to 2016
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 215014645

This project deals with the development and investigation of switchable molecular nanomagnets. The ability to switch functional properties of innovative materials is of the utmost importance for the successful application of these materials in novel devices. Molecular nanomagnets are considered to possess high potential for ultrahigh-density magnetic data storage systems. However, their switchability is a largely unexplored area. We have identified a number of novel and very promising directions along which we can make substantial progress towards switchable molecular nanomagnets for data storage devices. In addition, the outcomes of this project will enhance our knowledge of transition metal compounds of different dimensionalities with non-innocent ligands. Beyond the fields of coordination chemistry and molecular magnetism, the results of this project may also have an impact in the area of quantum coherence and possibly quantum information processing, as well as in quantum spin physics.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants