Project description DEENESFRITPL An unprecedented experimental setup sheds new light on spin-electric effects Control over magnetic properties is key to storage devices for writing, reading and accessing data. In contrast to bulk materials, molecules offer opportunities for unprecedented high density, speed and efficiency. The electron spin of atoms generate a small magnetic field that can be controlled through strong, locally applicable and rapidly switchable electric fields. Control enhancement will lead to smaller, more efficient and low-energy devices with numerous applications. The EU-funded ELECTRA project will develop a pioneering experimental technique to study spin-electric effects on both single crystals and thin films. Combining theoretical and experimental approaches, the project will avail new insights into spin-electric effects for a rational molecular design. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective ELECTRA aims at understanding and controlling the interaction between magnetic molecules and electric fields, called Spin-Electric (SE) effect. Molecules have several characteristics that make them appealing for information technology (small size, monodispersity, chemical tunability, quantum behaviour). Nowadays, electric fields are the most environmentally friendly and precise way to target a single molecule. Therefore, understanding how to tailor and control the SE effects will trigger the design of less energy-demanding, more efficient, and smaller devices. However, the SE effects on molecules are still poorly explored and rationalized, largely due to the absence of a generally applicable experimental technique. Therefore, this project proposes the realisation of a novel experimental technique to detect SE effects on any magnetically anisotropic material, with no a priori restrictions. The versatility of the technique will allow the study of both single crystals and thin films, which is vital in the perspective of using these systems in nanostructures. A rational synthetic plan will exploit the versatility of chemistry to unravel the role and importance of three chemically tunable properties (spin-orbit coupling, nature of the donor atoms, and structural rigidity) on the onset of the SE effects in coordination complexes. Moreover, the effect of temperature and magnetic field on the SE effects will be assessed using super-sensitive molecular probes. The rationalization of the effect will be obtained by combining ab initio calculations and phenomenological models. The positive completion of ELECTRA will deliver an unprecedented understanding of the SE effects in molecules and chemical guidelines for synthesizing highly performant molecular architectures with SE effects on-demand to be used in the field of information technology. Fields of science engineering and technologymaterials engineeringcoating and films Keywords spin-electric effect magnetic anisotropy electric field magnetism magnetometry lanthanides transition metals Programme(s) HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme Topic(s) ERC-2021-STG - ERC STARTING GRANTS Call for proposal ERC-2021-STG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants Host institution UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI FIRENZE Net EU contribution € 1 498 784,00 Address Piazza San Marco 4 50121 Florence Italy See on map Region Centro (IT) Toscana Firenze Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 1 498 784,00 Beneficiaries (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI FIRENZE Italy Net EU contribution € 1 498 784,00 Address Piazza San Marco 4 50121 Florence See on map Region Centro (IT) Toscana Firenze Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 1 498 784,00
