title: The Quest for Nanoscale Magnets: The example of [Mn12] Single Molecule Magnets.
abstract: Recent advances on the organization and characterization of [Mn12] single molecule magnets (SMMs) on a surface or in 3D are reviewed. By using nonconventional techniques such as X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), it is shown that [Mn12]-based SMMs deposited on a surface lose their SMM behavior, even though the molecules seem to be structurally undamaged. A new approach is reported to get high-density information-storage devices, based on the 3D assembling of SMMs in a liquid crystalline phase. The 3D nanostructure exhibits the anisotropic character of the SMMs, thus opening the way to address micrometric volumes by two photon absorption using the pump-probe technique. We present recent developments such as µ-SQUID, magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE), or magneto-optical circular dichroism (MOCD), which enable the characterization of SMM nanostructures with exceptional sensitivity. Further, the spin-polarized version of the STM under ultrahigh vacuum is shown to be the key tool for addressing not only single molecule magnets, but also magnetic nano-objects.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Physique et Chimie des Matériaux de Strasbourg (UMR 7504 CNRS-Université de Strasbourg) 23, rue du Loess, 67034 Strasbourg (France).
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rogez
authors.affiliation: Institut de Physique et Chimie des Matériaux de Strasbourg (UMR 7504 CNRS-Université de Strasbourg) 23, rue du Loess, 67034 Strasbourg (France).
authors.forename: Bertrand
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Donnio
authors.affiliation: Institut de Physique et Chimie des Matériaux de Strasbourg (UMR 7504 CNRS-Université de Strasbourg) 23, rue du Loess, 67034 Strasbourg (France).
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Terazzi
authors.affiliation: Institut de Physique et Chimie des Matériaux de Strasbourg (UMR 7504 CNRS-Université de Strasbourg) 23, rue du Loess, 67034 Strasbourg (France).
authors.forename: Jean-Louis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Gallani
authors.affiliation: Institut de Physique et Chimie des Matériaux de Strasbourg (UMR 7504 CNRS-Université de Strasbourg) 23, rue du Loess, 67034 Strasbourg (France).
authors.forename: Jean-Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Kappler
authors.affiliation: Institut de Physique et Chimie des Matériaux de Strasbourg (UMR 7504 CNRS-Université de Strasbourg) 23, rue du Loess, 67034 Strasbourg (France).
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Bucher
authors.affiliation: Institut de Physique et Chimie des Matériaux de Strasbourg (UMR 7504 CNRS-Université de Strasbourg) 23, rue du Loess, 67034 Strasbourg (France). marc.drillon@ipcms.u-strasbg.fr.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Drillon
keywords: Ferromagnetism; Nanodevices; Single molecule magnets