Organizing and addressing magnetic molecules.
Magnetic molecules ranging from simple organic radicals to single-molecule magnets (SMMs) are intensively investigated for their potential applications in molecule-based information storage and processing. The goal of this Article is to review recent achievements in the organization of magnetic molecules on surfaces and in their individual probing and manipulation. We stress that the inherent fragility and redox sensitivity of most SMM complexes, combined with the noninnocent role played by the substrate, ask for a careful evaluation of the structural and electronic properties of deposited molecules going beyond routine methods for surface analysis. Detailed magnetic information can be directly obtained using X-ray magnetic circular dichroism or newly emerging scanning probe techniques with magnetic detection capabilities.
Gatteschi
Dante
D
Department of Chemistry and INSTM (UdR Firenze), University of Florence, via della Lastruccia 3, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy. dante.gatteschi@unifi.it
Cornia
Andrea
A
Mannini
Matteo
M
Sessoli
Roberta
R