title: Exchange Coupling Inversion in a High-Spin Organic Triradical Molecule.
abstract: The magnetic properties of a nanoscale system are inextricably linked to its local environment. In adatoms on surfaces and inorganic layered structures, the exchange interactions result from the relative lattice positions, layer thicknesses, and other environmental parameters. Here, we report on a sample-dependent sign inversion of the magnetic exchange coupling between the three unpaired spins of an organic triradical molecule embedded in a three-terminal device. This ferro-to-antiferromagnetic transition is due to structural distortions and results in a high-to-low spin ground-state change in a molecule traditionally considered to be a robust high-spin quartet. Moreover, the flexibility of the molecule yields an in situ electric tunability of the exchange coupling via the gate electrode. These findings open a route to the controlled reversal of the magnetic states in organic molecule-based nanodevices by mechanical means, electrical gating, or chemical tailoring.
authors: Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology , 2600 GA, Delft, The Netherlands.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Gaudenzi
authors: Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology , 2600 GA, Delft, The Netherlands.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Burzurí
authors: Departament de Química Física and Institut de Química Teórica i Computacional, Universitat de Barcelona (IQTCUB) , E-08028 Barcelona, Spain.
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Reta
authors: Departament de Química Física and Institut de Química Teórica i Computacional, Universitat de Barcelona (IQTCUB) , E-08028 Barcelona, Spain.
authors: I de P R
authors: Ide P
authors: Moreira
authors: Departament de Química Física and Institut de Química Teórica i Computacional, Universitat de Barcelona (IQTCUB) , E-08028 Barcelona, Spain.|Institició Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA) , 08010 Barcelona, Spain.
authors: S T
authors: ST
authors: Bromley
authors: Institut de Ciéncia de Materials de Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC) and CIBER-BBN , Campus de la UAB, 08193, Bellaterra, Spain.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Rovira
authors: Institut de Ciéncia de Materials de Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC) and CIBER-BBN , Campus de la UAB, 08193, Bellaterra, Spain.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Veciana
authors: Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology , 2600 GA, Delft, The Netherlands.
authors: H S J
authors: HS
authors: van der Zant
keywords: Organic radicals; magnetic exchange; molecular electronics; polyradicals; spintronics