| EPSRC Reference: |
EP/I027203/1 |
| Title: |
Atom-by-atom control for the targeted chemical synthesis of heterometallic molecular nanomagnets |
| Principal Investigator: |
Murrie, Professor M |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
School of Chemistry |
| Organisation: |
University of Glasgow |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research |
| Starts: |
01 June 2011 |
Ends: |
31 August 2014 |
Value (£): |
348,476
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Co-ordination Chemistry |
Materials Characterisation |
| Materials Synthesis & Growth |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
| No relevance to Underpinning Sectors |
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| Related Grants: |
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| Panel History: |
| Panel Date | Panel Name | Outcome |
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30 Nov 2010
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Physical Sciences Panel - Chemistry
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Announced
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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Current magnetic materials are made using a 'top-down' approach. A random distribution of grains is dispersed across the hard drive surface: the media itself is featureless and the write head defines the bit locations. These magnetic particles (grains) cannot continue to decrease in size indefinitely as the thermal energy will become sufficient to flip the magnetisation of the magnetic domain, leading to data loss. Therefore, it is imperative that new magnetic materials are developed. If the bit size is to decrease further towards a few nanometres, we move into the realm of magnetic molecules, which are easy to synthesise, cheap and are monodisperse, allowing for self-assembly of an array of molecular bits on a surface. However, current synthetic approaches to these magnetic molecules rely heavily upon the random assembly of transition metal ions from a reaction mixture containing organic ligands. This method affords little synthetic control over the reaction product and hence, little control over the resultant magnetic properties of the molecule. Therefore, these magnetic molecules display their interesting properties only at very low temperatures. To increase the so-called blocking temperature, we need much greater control over their synthesis.We will use a step-by-step self-assembly synthetic approach to prepare improved molecular nanomagnets (single-molecule magnets or SMMs). We will track the assembly of these molecules in solution, from their carefully designed precursors, using mass spectrometry. This technique will allow us to control the synthesis of heterometallic complexes, which will contain between two and four different types of magnetic ions. We will be able to control exactly where each type of ion resides within the magnetic molecule, e.g. producing core-shell structures. This level of synthetic control will allow us to control both the magnetic exchange coupling and the magnetic anisotropy. This incredible level of control over the key magnetic properties will allow us to synthesise single-molecule magnets with unprecedented structures and blocking temperatures that surpass the current world record.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.gla.ac.uk |