The controlled deposition, characterization and manipulation of single molecule magnets (SMMs) on surfaces is one of the crucial points to be addressed with regard to their possible implementation as functional units in future electronic and spintronic devices. Profound understanding of molecule-molecule and molecule-substrate interactions is required as well as unraveling their effect on the molecular electronic and magnetic properties. Local measurement techniques like scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) together with ensemble-averaging methods like X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) have been proven to set up an appropriate frame to study these materials. The majority of these studies deal with magnetic molecules that exhibit rather simple structures with mostly only one magnetic ion. The situation becomes more complicated when it comes to larger SMM compounds that can be quite fragile with respect to the surface deposition or not easy to organize on surfaces due to their bulky ligand shell. Here, we provide an overview of our results on successful deposition of SMMs on functional surfaces by employing the electrospray deposition (ESD) method. We will briefly focus on ESD implementation in our home laboratory and further discuss several examples of surface-deposited SMMs. In particular, our investigations on electronic and magnetic properties of individual SMM complexes – Fe4H [1] and Dy2@C80(CH2Ph) [2] – will be presented. 

Figure 1. (a) Molecular structure of Fe4H. (b) STM images of Fe4H on Au(111). Inset: Magnified image of a single molecule. (c) Molecular structure of Dy2@C80(CH2Ph). (d) STM topographic image of two isolated molecules on the graphene/Ir(111) surface. 

References

[1] F. Paschke et al, Science Advances 11, eadu0916 (2025).

[2] F. Paschke et al., Small 18, 2105667 (2022).

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https://us06web.zoom.us/j/5081440931

Meeting ID: 508 144 0931

Seminar hosts: Juraj Krsnik i Borna Radatović