Controlled growth, reactivity and properties of Prussian Blue derived magnetic and photomagnetic multilayers – C-BLUE

The present project is concerned with the investigation of new electronic systems, possibly smaller and more efficient than current devices. It deals with the elaboration of new magnetic or photo-magnetic and adaptable multilayer’s by using “Chimie Douce” approaches. We intend to build organic-inorganic nano-systems consisting of the controlled stacking of magnetic and/or photomagnetic single layers separated by inorganic or organic two-dimensional templates. The later will exhibit adaptable structures and optical or magnetic properties. It will be used for tuning the interactions between magnetic and/or photomagnetic single layers and hence the properties of the whole organic-inorganic hybrid materials.
The magnetic or photo-magnetic component will be Prussian Blue analogues (PBA) which are archetypes of molecular based magnet exhibiting tunable magnetic properties and also strong interaction with light for some of them. The effect of reducing the dimensionality of the PB network and how it behaves when re-organized in different topologies is yet to be explored. The template structures that we have chosen are lamellar meso-structured silica (LMS) , layered magnetic compounds derived from transition metal hydroxides M2(OH)3(A).zH2O, A = alkyl-carboxylate, -sulfate, … (LH) and polyelectrolyte multilayered films (PE). The Prussian blue analogues will be synthesized in the confined space defined by either the inter-lamellar space of the LMS, the interlayer space of the LH’s or in between the constitutive sheets of periodic PE films. The synthesis of the template materials is acquired by the three partners and they exhibit remarkable structural and eventually magnetic properties.
The aim of the project is to design two-dimensional nanostructures and to study the mutual influences between i) confinement, ii) dimensionality, iii) magnetism afforded by the inorganic layers, iv) self-assembling properties of PE’s, and the magnetism and/or photo-magnetism of the inserted molecular based magnet (PBA).
The use of three different templates is useful for analyzing the individual impact of these possibly cross-linked influences.
In the field of functional nano-materials, designing multi-property materials, like photo-magnetic or magneto-luminescent systems, to build integrated devices are among the major nowadays issues. As far as integration and light are concerned, nanometer sized multilayer systems are particularly adapted. The challenge then is to control the quality of the film packing, i.e. the composition, the structure and the growth size, and also the interactions and bonding between alternating layers.

This interdisciplinary project will be developed within the collaboration between complementary partners.
The novelty of the project is to combine three types of structures of confinement for one goal: elaboration via chemical routes of well defined functional multilayers with remarkable magnetic and electronic properties. Additional value stems from our aim to really identify and control the structural features and physical mechanisms influencing the properties of these new nanostructures.