Single-Molecule Magnets (SMMs) are suitable candidates for ultimate data storage applications since they display magnetic bistability at the single-molecule scale. In parallel, magneto-chiral dichroism (MChD) has been proposed as an optical alternative for the readout of magnetic data. Thus SMMs displaying MChD could be ideal candidates for optically readable ultimate data storage medium. Moreover, incorporating switches in such molecular systems would trigger various magnetic states of the SMMs. The ultimate goal of the project SWITCH-MChD is to design, synthesize and study chiral lanthanide SMMs with redox- or photo-switching abilities. In the proposed systems, the lanthanide center is the source of the SMM properties. The MChD properties arise from the coordination of the metal center to chiral ligands. The latter contains a photo or redox switchable unit. Upon switching, the lanthanide crystal field hence the magnetic anisotropy should be modulated, modifying both the SMM behavior and the MChD response.
Link : https://anr.fr/Projet-ANR-23-CE07-0003
