A revolution in electronics is in view, with the contemporary evolution of the two novel disciplines of spintronics and molecular electronics. A fundamental link between these two fields can be established using molecular magnetic materials and, in particular, single-molecule magnets. Here, we review the first progress in the resulting field, molecular spintronics, which will enable the manipulation of spin and charges in electronic devices containing one or more molecules. We discuss the advantages over more conventional materials, and the potential applications in information storage and processing. We also outline current challenges in the field, and propose convenient schemes to overcome them.

Molecular spintronics using single-molecule magnets

Many interesting but practically intractable problems can be reduced to that of finding the ground state of a system of interacting spins. It is believed that the ground state of some naturally occurring spin systems can be effectively attained through a process called quantum annealing. Johnson et al. use quantum annealing to find the ground state of an artificial Ising spin system comprised of an array of eight superconducting flux qubits with programmable spin–spin couplings. With an increased number of spins, the system may provide a practical physical means to implement quantum algorithms, possibly enabling more effective approaches towards solving certain classes of hard combinatorial optimization problems. Many interesting but practically intractable problems can be reduced to that of finding the ground state of a system of interacting spins; however, finding such a ground state remains computationally difficult1. It is believed that the ground state of some naturally occurring spin systems can be effectively attained through a process called quantum annealing2,3. If it could be harnessed, quantum annealing might improve on known methods for solving certain types of problem4,5. However, physical investigation of quantum annealing has been largely confined to microscopic spins in condensed-matter systems6,7,8,9,10,11,12. Here we use quantum annealing to find the ground state of an artificial Ising spin system comprising an array of eight superconducting flux quantum bits with programmable spin–spin couplings. We observe a clear signature of quantum annealing, distinguishable from classical thermal annealing through the temperature dependence of the time at which the system dynamics freezes. Our implementation can be configured in situ to realize a wide variety of different spin networks, each of which can be monitored as it moves towards a low-energy configuration13,14. This programmable artificial spin network bridges the gap between the theoretical study of ideal isolated spin networks and the experimental investigation of bulk magnetic samples. Moreover, with an increased number of spins, such a system may provide a practical physical means to implement a quantum algorithm, possibly allowing more-effective approaches to solving certain classes of hard combinatorial optimization problems.

Quantum annealing with manufactured spins

Scientists have long employed lanthanide elements in the design of materials with extraordinary magnetic properties, including the strongest magnets known, SmCo5 and Nd2Fe14B. The properties of these materials are largely a product of fine-tuning the interaction between the lanthanide ion and the crystal lattice. Recently, synthetic chemists have begun to utilize f-elements—both lanthanides and actinides—for the construction of single-molecule magnets, resulting in a rapid expansion of the field. The desirable magnetic characteristics of the f-elements are contingent upon the interaction between the single-ion electron density and the crystal field environment in which it is placed. This interaction leads to the single-ion anisotropies requisite for strong single-molecule magnets. Therefore, it is of vital importance to understand the particular crystal field environments that could lead to maximization of the anisotropy for individual f-elements. Here, we summarize a qualitative method for predicting the ligand architectures that will generate magnetic anisotropy for a variety of f-element ions. It is hoped that this simple model will serve to guide the design of stronger single-molecule magnets incorporating the f-elements.

/pdf/exploiting-single-ion-anisotropy-in-the-design-of-f-element-43gapzimvj.pdf

Exploiting single-ion anisotropy in the design of f-element single-molecule magnets

Building an electronic device using individual molecules is one of the ultimate goals in nanotechnology. To achieve this it will be necessary to measure, control and understand electron transport through molecules attached to electrodes. Substantial progress has been made over the past decade and we present here an overview of some of the recent advances. Topics covered include molecular wires, two-terminal switches and diodes, three-terminal transistor-like devices and hybrid devices that use various different signals (light, magnetic fields, and chemical and mechanical signals) to control electron transport in molecules. We also discuss further issues, including molecule-electrode contacts, local heating- and current-induced instabilities, stochastic fluctuations and the development of characterization tools.

Electron transport in molecular junctions.

Creating functional electrical circuits using individual or ensemble molecules, often termed as “molecular-scale electronics”, not only meets the increasing technical demands of the miniaturization of traditional Si-based electronic devices, but also provides an ideal window of exploring the intrinsic properties of materials at the molecular level. This Review covers the major advances with the most general applicability and emphasizes new insights into the development of efficient platform methodologies for building reliable molecular electronic devices with desired functionalities through the combination of programmed bottom-up self-assembly and sophisticated top-down device fabrication. First, we summarize a number of different approaches of forming molecular-scale junctions and discuss various experimental techniques for examining these nanoscale circuits in details. We then give a full introduction of characterization techniques and theoretical simulations for molecular electronics. Third, we highlig...

Molecular-Scale Electronics: From Concept to Function

The ability to manipulate electron spin in organic molecular materials offers a new and extremely tantalizing route towards spin electronics, both from fundamental and technological points of view. This is mainly due to the unquestionable advantage of weak spin–orbit and hyperfine interactions in organic molecules, which leads to the possibility of preserving spin-coherence over times and distances much longer than in conventional metals or semiconductors. Here we demonstrate theoretically that organic spin valves, obtained by sandwiching an organic molecule between magnetic contacts, can show a large bias-dependent magnetoresistance and that this can be engineered by an appropriate choice of molecules and anchoring groups. Our results, obtained through a combination of state-of-the-art non-equilibrium transport methods and density functional theory, show that although the magnitude of the effect varies with the details of the molecule, large magnetoresistance can be found both in the tunnelling and the metallic limit.

/pdf/towards-molecular-spintronics-qfs91s39qi.pdf

Towards molecular spintronics.

We investigate the molecular sensing properties of carbon nanotube-boron nitride-carbon nanotube (CNT-BN-CNT) junctions. We demonstrate that the electrical conductance of such a junction changes in response to the binding of an analyte molecule to the region of BN. The change in conductance depends on the length of the BN spacer and the position of the analyte and therefore we propose a method of statistically analysing conductance data. We demonstrate the ability to discriminate between analytes, by computing the conductance changes due to three analytes (benzene, thiol-capped oligoyne and a pyridyl-capped oligoyne) binding to junctions with five different lengths of BN spacer.

Sensing Single Molecules with Carbon-Boron-Nitride Nanotubes

http://absimage.aps.org/image/MAR05/MWS_MAR05-2004-010006.pdf

Single channel conductance of H$_2$ molecules

We investigate the molecular sensing properties of carbon nanotube–boron nitride–carbon nanotube (CNT–BN–CNT) junctions. We demonstrate that the electrical conductance of such a junction changes in response to the binding of an analyte molecule to the region of BN. The change in conductance depends on the length of the BN spacer and the position of the analyte and therefore we propose a method of statistically analysing conductance data. We demonstrate the ability to discriminate between analytes, by computing the conductance changes due to three analytes (benzene, thiol-capped oligoyne and a pyridyl-capped oligoyne) binding to junctions with five different lengths of BN spacer.

/pdf/sensing-single-molecules-with-carbon-boron-nitride-nanotubes-1dzbou1olr.pdf

Sensing single molecules with carbon–boron-nitride nanotubes

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Towards molecular spintronics.

Sensing Single Molecules with Carbon-Boron-Nitride Nanotubes

Single channel conductance of H$_2$ molecules

Sensing single molecules with carbon–boron-nitride nanotubes