Molecular Flip Flops: Spin Switching by Intramolecular Feed Back

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Rainer Herges
• Subject Area: Organic Molecular Chemistry - Synthesis and Characterisation
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 461090985

Molecules are the smallest constructions that can be designed and built with atomic precision and predictable properties. Their response to electrical or optical stimuli and their custom-designed chemical and physical functionality make them unique candidates to develop new classes of devices for information processing, energy conversion and molecular machines. The majority of functional molecular units to date has been controlled and powered by light-responsive molecular switches (photochromic compounds). In this project, we explore and further develop a new principle that is based on intramolecular feedback. The novel approach opens a number of applications such as molecular spintronics, memristors and spin catalysis.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants