Regensburg 2013 – scientific programme

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O: Fachverband Oberflächenphysik

O 29: Organic/bio Molecules on Metal Surfaces III

O 29.11: Talk

Tuesday, March 12, 2013, 13:00–13:15, H38

Investigation of Mn₁₂ single molecule magnets on surfaces deposited by means of electrospray ionization — •Philipp Erler¹, Stefan Ambrus², Sebastian Höll¹, Samuel Bouvron¹, Ulrich Groth², Elizabeta Cavar¹, and Mikhail Fonin¹ — ¹Fachbereich Physik, Universität Konstanz, 78457 Konstanz — ²Fachbereich Chemie, Universität Konstanz, 78457 Konstanz

Single molecule magnets (SMMs), like Mn₁₂-acetate, have attracted significant interest during the past decades due to their unique magnetic properties like hysteresis of pure molecular origin and the possibility to observe quantum tunneling of magnetization. This material class allows for basic studies on quantum effects of magnetism on the molecular scale and is furthermore a promising candidate for preliminary studies aiming at ultrahigh density data storage devices or quantum computing applications. However, progress in this field is hindered by the difficulty of depositing intact SMMs on surfaces.

Here we present a study of Mn₁₂-acetate molecules deposited on different noble metal surfaces by means of electrospray ionization in ultra high vacuum. In contrast to wet chemical preparation procedures, this method offers the advantages of a high sample quality, full control over the surface coverage and a free choice of the substrate and the molecular ligand shell. We studied the structural and electronic properties of sub-monolayers of Mn₁₂ molecules using low temperature scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy (STM/STS). Molecular islands, chain like structures as well as individual clusters were investigated.