Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Recent advances in the synthesis of graphene fragments that possess unpaired π-electrons and display high-spin ground states have unlocked possibilities to explore exotic physical phenomena related to magnetism. The high degree of spin-delocalisation makes these non-metal-based systems ideal building blocks for the construction of chains and lattices with strongly correlated magnetic ground states, which is the main requisite for measurement-based quantum computation. In this work, we demonstrate the magnetic bistability of a diradical nanographene that allows direct spin manipulation at the single-molecule level. To this end, we make use of solution-phase synthesis and tip-induced activation on a metallic surface to construct a helical non-Kekulé hydrocarbon spin switch, with a reversible transformation between a magnetic ground state and a non-magnetic one via intramolecular bond formation/breaking. The switching process is monitored by scanning tunnelling spectroscopy measurements, illustrating that this, and related systems, hold potential as spin-switch units for direct manipulation of magnetism and quantum information in entangled spin systems.
Source: Nature Communications
Language: English
Subfield: Biomedical Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $6,990
Funders: National Science Foundation, European Commission, Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung, Universiteit van Amsterdam, Universität Zürich, National Center of Competence in Research Materials’ Revolution: Computational Design and Discovery of Novel Materials
Awards: Control of Spin Interactions in Helical Systems, G3482134774, G434337789, NCCR MARVEL: Materials’ Revolution: Computational Design and Discovery of Novel Materials (phase III), On-surface synthesis of carbon-based quantum spin systems (SYNC), Bottom-up design and exploration of p-electron quantum magnetism, G7658037602, A “Closer Look” at Open-Shell Nanographenes Through Bond and Space, G9000386318
OpenAlex ID: W7119464974