Enabling ambient stability and quantum integration of organometallic magnonic ferrimagnets via atomic layer encapsulation
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Magnons, the quanta of spin waves in magnetic materials, are promising for hybrid quantum systems by bridging electromagnetic and spin degrees of freedom. The organometallic ferrimagnet vanadium tetracyanoethylene (V[TCNE]x, x ≈ 2) is especially well-suited for quantum magnonics due to its low Gilbert damping and substrate versatility. However, its rapid chemical degradation in ambient conditions hinders practical applications. Incumbent encapsulation methods provide some protection, but are bulky, obscure intrinsic properties of V[TCNE]x, introduce thermal stress at cryogenic temperatures, and complicate microwave device integration. Here, we demonstrate that ultrathin alumina films deposited via low-temperature atomic layer deposition effectively protect V[TCNE]x by preserving its magnetic and magnonic properties following ambient exposure. The sub-100 nm transparent films also enable advanced spectroscopy, magnetometry, and cavity magnonic measurements that reveal the intrinsic properties of V[TCNE]x. This encapsulation strategy advances molecule-based quantum information science by providing a robust route toward scalable, monolithic integration in hybrid quantum technologies. Ultrathin alumina encapsulation protects the magnetic, magnonic, and optical properties of air-sensitive V[TCNE]ₓ, enabling characterization of intrinsic material properties and integration of this organic-based magnet into cryogenic quantum devices.
Source: Nature Communications
Language: English
Field: Materials Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $6,990
Funders: National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Energy, Northwestern University, Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung, Office of Science, Cornell Center for Materials Research, Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, Harvard University, Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, Northwestern University, Division of Materials Research, Division of Electrical, Communications and Cyber Systems, Basic Energy Sciences
Awards: G1205195086, NNCI: Soft Hybrid Nanotechnology Experimental (SHyNE) Resource, G1321126357, CENTER FOR MOLECULAR QUANTUM TRANSDUCTION (CMQT), G2233802770, G2248407278, G2264468429, G2343375527, G2415270547, G2486116128, G266914229, G2714387552, G3010471893, G3062877667, G3203750490, CENTER FOR MOLECULAR QUANTUM TRANSDUCTION (CMQT), Cornell Center for Materials Research - MRSEC, Northwestern University Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, G4382710757, G4958141111, G5671831644, G5917061246, G5956625161, G6351810044, G6540817556, G6568212763, NNCI: Cornell NanoScale Science and Technology Facility (CNF), Center for Emergent Materials, an NSF MRSEC, G7767248047, Nanoscale understanding and chemical functionalization of phosphorene and 2D InSe semiconductors
OpenAlex ID: W4416719158