Hironari Isshiki

Observation and electric current control of a local spin in a single-molecule magnet.

In molecular spintronics, the spin state of a molecule may be switched on and off by changing the molecular structure. Here, we switch on and off the molecular spin of a double-decker bis(phthalocyaninato)terbium(III) complex (TbPc2) adsorbed on an Au(111) surface by applying an electric current via a scanning tunnelling microscope. The dI/dV curve of the tunnelling current recorded onto a TbPc2 molecule shows a Kondo peak, the origin of which is an unpaired spin of a π-orbital of a phthalocyaninato (Pc) ligand. By applying controlled current pulses, we could rotate the upper Pc ligand in TbPc2, leading to the disappearance and reappearance of the Kondo resonance. The rotation shifts the molecular frontier-orbital energies, quenching the π-electron spin. Reversible switching between two stable ligand orientations by applying a current pulse should make it possible to code information at the single-molecule level.

Direct Observation of Lanthanide(III)-Phthalocyanine Molecules on Au(111) by Using Scanning Tunneling Microscopy and Scanning Tunneling Spectroscopy and Thin-Film Field-Effect Transistor Properties of Tb(III)- and Dy(III)-Phthalocyanine Molecules

The crystal structures of double-decker single molecule magnets (SMM) LnPc(2) (Ln = Tb(III) and Dy(III); Pc = phthalocyanine) and non-SMM YPc(2) were determined by using X-ray diffraction analysis. The compounds are isomorphous to each other. The compounds have metal centers (M = Tb(3+), Dy(3+), and Y(3+)) sandwiched by two Pc ligands via eight isoindole-nitrogen atoms in a square-antiprism fashion. The twist angle between the two Pc ligands is 41.4 degrees. Scanning tunneling microscopy was used to investigate the compounds adsorbed on a Au(111) surface, deposited by using the thermal evaporation in ultrahigh vacuum. Both MPc(2) with eight lobes and MPc with four lobes, which has lost one Pc ligand, were observed. In the scanning tunneling spectroscopy images of TbPc molecules at 4.8 K, a Kondo peak with a Kondo temperature (T(K)) of approximately 250 K was observed near the Fermi level (V = 0 V). On the other hand, DyPc, YPc, and MPc(2) exhibited no Kondo peak. To understand the observed Kondo effect, the energy splitting of sublevels in a crystal field should be taken into consideration. As the next step in our studies on the SMM/Kondo effect in Tb-Pc derivatives, we investigated the electronic transport properties of Ln-Pc molecules as the active layer in top- and bottom-contact thin-film organic field effect transistor devices. Tb-Pc molecule devices exhibit p-type semiconducting properties with a hole mobility (mu(H)) of approximately 10(-4) cm(2) V(-1) s(-1). Interestingly, the Dy-Pc based devices exhibited ambipolar semiconducting properties with an electron mobility (mu(e)) of approximately 10(-5) and a mu(H) of approximately 10(-4) cm(2) V(-1) s(-1). This behavior has important implications for the electronic structure of the molecules.

Molecular Spintronics Based on Single‐Molecule Magnets Composed of Multiple‐Decker Phthalocyaninato Terbium(III) Complex

Unlike electronics, which is based on the freedom of the charge of an electron whose memory is volatile, spintronics is based on the freedom of the charge, spin, and orbital of an electron whose memory is non-volatile. Although in most GMR, TMR, and CMR systems, bulk or classical magnets that are composed of transition metals are used, this Focus Review considers the growing use of single-molecule magnets (SMMs) that are composed of multinuclear metal complexes and nanosized magnets, which exhibit slow magnetic-relaxation processes and quantum tunneling. Molecular spintronics, which combines spintronics and molecular electronics, is an emerging field of research. Using molecules is advantageous because their electronic and magnetic properties can be manipulated under specific conditions. Herein, recent developments in [LnPc]-based multiple-decker SMMs on surfaces for molecular spintronic devices are presented. First, we discuss the strategies for preparing single-molecular-memory devices by using SMMs. Next, we focus on the switching of the Kondo signal of [LnPc]-based multiple-decker SMMs that are adsorbed onto surfaces, their characterization by using STM and STS, and the relationship between the molecular structure, the electronic structure, and the Kondo resonance of [TbPc(2)]. Finally, the field-effect-transistor (FET) properties of surface-adsorbed [LnPc(2)] and [Ln(2)Pc(3)] cast films are reported, which is the first step towards controlling SMMs through their spins for applications in single-molecular memory and spintronics devices.

Exchange bias and room-temperature magnetic order in molecular layers

Molecular semiconductors may exhibit antiferromagnetic correlations well below room temperature. Although inorganic antiferromagnetic layers may exchange bias single-molecule magnets, the reciprocal effect of an antiferromagnetic molecular layer magnetically pinning an inorganic ferromagnetic layer through exchange bias has so far not been observed. We report on the magnetic interplay, extending beyond the interface, between a cobalt ferromagnetic layer and a paramagnetic organic manganese phthalocyanine (MnPc) layer. These ferromagnetic/organic interfaces are called spinterfaces because spin polarization arises on them. The robust magnetism of the Co/MnPc spinterface stabilizes antiferromagnetic ordering at room temperature within subsequent MnPc monolayers away from the interface. The inferred magnetic coupling strength is much larger than that found in similar bulk, thin or ultrathin systems. In addition, at lower temperature, the antiferromagnetic MnPc layer induces an exchange bias on the Co film, which is magnetically pinned. These findings create new routes towards designing organic spintronic devices.

Variation of Kondo Peak Observed in the Assembly of Heteroleptic 2,3-Naphthalocyaninato Phthalocyaninato Tb(III) Double-Decker Complex on Au(111)

By using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), we studied the heteroleptic double-decker complex TbNPcPc (NPc = naphthalocyaninato and Pc = phthalocyaninato), where two different planar ligands sandwich a Tb(III) ion and an unpaired π electron causes Kondo resonance upon adsorption on the Au(111) surface. Kondo resonance is a good conductance control mechanism originating from interactions between conduction electrons and a localized spin. Two types of adsorption geometries appear depending on which side contacts the substrate surface, which we call Pc-up and NPc-up molecules. They make intriguing molecular assemblies by segregation. In addition, different adsorption geometries and molecular assemblies provide a variety of spin and electronic configurations. Pc-up and NPc-up molecules both showed the Kondo resonance when they were isolated from other molecules, but their Kondo temperatures were different. A one-dimensional chain composed of only NPc-up molecules was found, in which the dI/dV plot showed a conversion from the Kondo peak to a dip at the Fermi energy. In addition, a two-dimensional lattice with an ordering of Pc-up and NPc-up molecules in an alternative manner was observed, in which no Kondo peak was detected in the molecule. The absence of the Kondo peak was accounted for by the change of azimuthal rotational angle of the two ligands of both molecules. The results imply that a molecule design and adsorption configuration tailoring can be used for the spin-mediated control of the electronic conductance of the molecule.

First Observation of a Kondo Resonance for a Stable Neutral Pure Organic Radical, 1,3,5-Triphenyl-6-oxoverdazyl, Adsorbed on the Au(111) Surface

We investigated spin states of stable neutral pure-organic radical molecules of 1,3,5-triphenyl-6-oxoverdazyl (TOV) and 1,3,5-triphenyl-6-thioxoverdazly (TTV) adsorbed on an Au(111) surface, which appears as a Kondo resonance because of spin-electron interaction. By using scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS), a clear Kondo resonance was detected for the TOV molecule. However, no Kondo resonance was detected for TOV molecules with protrusions in the occupied state image and for TTV molecules. Spin-resolved DFT calculations showed that an unpaired π electron was delocalized over the adsorbed TOV molecule, which was the origin of the Kondo resonance. For the TOV molecules with protrusions, we proposed a model in which an additional H atom was attached to the TOV molecule. Calculations showed that, upon transfer of an electron to the verdazyl ring, the unpaired π electron disappeared, accounting for the absence of a Kondo resonance in the STS spectra. The absence of a Kondo resonance for the TTV molecule can be explained in a similar manner. In other words, electron transfer to the verdazyl ring occurs because of Au-S bond formation.

Spin doping of individual molecules by using single-atom manipulation.

Being able to control the spin of magnetic molecules at the single-molecule level will make it possible to develop new spin-based nanotechnologies. Gate-field effects and electron and photon excitations have been used to achieve spin switching in molecules. Here, we show that atomic doping of molecules can be used to change the molecular spin. Furthermore, a scanning tunneling microscope was used to place or remove the atomic dopant on the molecule, allowing us to change the molecular spin in a controlled way. Bis(phthalocyaninato)yttrium (YPc(2)) molecules deposited on an Au (111) surface keep their spin-1/2 magnetic moment due to the small molecule-substrate interaction. However, when Cs atoms were carefully placed onto YPc(2) molecules, the spin of the molecule vanished as shown by our conductance measurements and corroborated by the results of density functional theory calculations.

Variation of Kondo Temperature Induced by Molecule–Substrate Decoupling in Film Formation of Bis(phthalocyaninato)terbium(III) Molecules on Au(111)

We demonstrate that the lattice formation of an adsorbed molecule decouples the molecule-substrate interaction to change the Kondo resonance, which occurs due to interactions between conduction electrons and the molecules unpaired spin. The double-decker bis(phthalocyaninato)terbium(III) complex, which is single-molecule magnet and forms a Kondo resonance on a Au(111) surface through an unpaired π-radical spin, is studied using scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy (STM/STS). In the STS spectra, an unusual sharp, strong peak (peak A) is found only for the molecule in a film. The peak position of peak A (εA) cyclically shifts by several hundred millivolts as the STS tip position shifts along the outer circle of the molecule, reflecting the tilting of the upper phthalocyanine (Pc) ligand from the flat-lying lower Pc ligand. The Kondo resonance, which is detected as a sharp peak at the Fermi level, also shows cyclic variations of the peak width and intensity. As εA approaches EF, the Kondo temperature (TK) increases. We propose a model that peak A originates from the singly occupied molecular orbital state whose energy is shifted by an unscreened final state effect due to a decrease in the molecule-substrate chemisorptive interaction. We further examine this model using density functional theory calculations, confirming a decreased molecule-substrate interaction for molecules in the film compared to that of isolated molecules. Further calculations of a tilted upper Pc ligand configuration show a site-dependent, cyclic variation of the molecule-substrate interaction within a molecule.

Metal-free phthalocyanine (H2Pc) molecule adsorbed on the Au(111) surface: formation of a wide domain along a single lattice direction

Abstract Using low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), we observed the bonding configuration of the metal-free phthalocyanine (H2Pc) molecule adsorbed on the Au(111) surface. A local lattice formation started from a quasi-square lattice aligned to the close-packed directions of the Au(111) surface. Although we expected the lattice alignment to be equally distributed along the three crystallographically equivalent directions, the domain aligned normal to the ridge of the herringbone structure was missing in the STM images. We attribute this effect to the uniaxial contraction of the reconstructed Au(111) surface that can account for the formation of a large lattice domain along a single crystallographical direction.

Spin-Dependent Hybridization between Molecule and Metal at Room Temperature through Interlayer Exchange Coupling

We experimentally and theoretically show that the magnetic coupling at room temperature between paramagnetic Mn within manganese phthalocyanine molecules and a Co layer persists when separated by a Cu spacer. The molecules magnetization amplitude and direction can be tuned by varying the Cu-spacer thickness and evolves according to an interlayer exchange coupling mechanism. Ab initio calculations predict a highly spin-polarized density of states at the Fermi level of this metal-molecule interface, thereby strengthening prospective spintronics applications.