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An electrically controlled single-molecule spin switch

Author

Listed:
  • Wantong Huang

    (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology)

  • Kwan Ho Au-Yeung

    (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
    Karlsruhe Institute of Technology)

  • Paul Greule

    (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology)

  • Máté Stark

    (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology)

  • Christoph Sürgers

    (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology)

  • Wolfgang Wernsdorfer

    (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
    Institute for Quantum Materials and Technologies)

  • Roberto Robles

    (Centro de Física de Materiales CFM/MPC (CSIC-UPV/EHU))

  • Nicolas Lorente

    (Centro de Física de Materiales CFM/MPC (CSIC-UPV/EHU)
    Donostia International Physics Center)

  • Philip Willke

    (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
    Karlsruhe Institute of Technology)

Abstract

Precise control of spin states and spin-spin interactions in atomic-scale magnetic structures is crucial for spin-based quantum technologies. A promising architecture is molecular spin systems, which offer chemical tunability and scalability for larger structures. An essential component, in addition to the qubits themselves, is switchable qubit-qubit interactions that can be individually addressed. In this study, we present an electrically controlled single-molecule spin switch based on a bistable complex adsorbed on an insulating magnesium oxide film. The complex, which consists of an Fe adatom coupled to an iron phthalocyanine (FePc) molecule, can be reversibly switched between two stable states using bias voltage pulses locally via the tip of a scanning tunnelling microscope. Inelastic electron tunnelling spectroscopy measurements and density functional theory calculations reveal a distinct change between a paramagnetic and a non-magnetic spin configuration. Lastly, we demonstrate the functionality of this molecular spin switch by using it to modify the electron spin resonance frequency of a nearby target FePc spin within a spin-spin coupled structure. Thus, we showcase how individual molecular machines can be utilized to create scalable and tunable quantum devices.

Suggested Citation

  • Wantong Huang & Kwan Ho Au-Yeung & Paul Greule & Máté Stark & Christoph Sürgers & Wolfgang Wernsdorfer & Roberto Robles & Nicolas Lorente & Philip Willke, 2025. "An electrically controlled single-molecule spin switch," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-63574-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-63574-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Grant J. Simpson & Víctor García-López & A. Daniel Boese & James M. Tour & Leonhard Grill, 2019. "How to control single-molecule rotation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-6, December.
    2. Lukas Gerhard & Kevin Edelmann & Jan Homberg & Michal Valášek & Safa G. Bahoosh & Maya Lukas & Fabian Pauly & Marcel Mayor & Wulf Wulfhekel, 2017. "An electrically actuated molecular toggle switch," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-10, April.
    3. Fabian D. Natterer & Kai Yang & William Paul & Philip Willke & Taeyoung Choi & Thomas Greber & Andreas J. Heinrich & Christopher P. Lutz, 2017. "Reading and writing single-atom magnets," Nature, Nature, vol. 543(7644), pages 226-228, March.
    4. Wantong Huang & Máté Stark & Paul Greule & Kwan Ho Au-Yeung & Daria Sostina & José Reina Gálvez & Christoph Sürgers & Wolfgang Wernsdorfer & Christoph Wolf & Philip Willke, 2025. "Quantum spin-engineering in on-surface molecular ferrimagnets," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-9, December.
    5. Jesús Ferrando-Soria & Eufemio Moreno Pineda & Alessandro Chiesa & Antonio Fernandez & Samantha A. Magee & Stefano Carretta & Paolo Santini & Iñigo J. Vitorica-Yrezabal & Floriana Tuna & Grigore A. Ti, 2016. "A modular design of molecular qubits to implement universal quantum gates," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-10, September.
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