Magnetic Fingerprints in an All-Organic Radical Molecular Break Junction

Thomas Y. Baum, Saleta Fernández, Diego Peña, Herre S.J. Van Der Zant

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)
21 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons radicals are organic molecules with a nonzero total magnetic moment. Here, we report on charge-transport experiments with bianthracene-based radicals using a mechanically controlled break junction technique at low temperatures (6 K). The conductance spectra demonstrate that the magnetism of the diradical is preserved in solid-state devices and that it manifests itself either in the form of a Kondo resonance or inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy signature caused by spin-flip processes. The magnetic fingerprints depend on the exact configuration of the molecule in the junction; this picture is supported by reference measurements on a radical molecule with the same backbone but with one free spin, in which only Kondo anomalies are observed. The results show that the open-shell structures based on the bianthracene core are interesting systems to study spin-spin interactions in solid-state devices, and this may open the way to control them either electrically or by mechanical strain.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)8086-8092
Number of pages7
JournalNano Letters
Volume22
Issue number20
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2022

Keywords

  • inelastic spin-flip spectroscopy
  • Kondo effect
  • mechanically controlled break junction
  • molecular electronics
  • open-shell polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
  • organic radical

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