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 language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 8086-8092 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Nano Letters |
Volume | 22 |
Issue number | 20 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2022 |
Keywords
- inelastic spin-flip spectroscopy
- Kondo effect
- mechanically controlled break junction
- molecular electronics
- open-shell polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
- organic radical