LAnthanIdes sinGle-mlecUle magNets for mAgneto-optics – LAGUNA

he LAGUNA project is dedicated to Lanthanide coordination complexes, with a specific focus on Single-Molecule Magnets (SMMs) endowed with luminescent properties. In the modern data-driven era, the need for advanced high-density data storage solutions is more pressing than ever.
Through a multidisciplinary approach encompassing coordination and materials chemistries and physics, we aim to achieve the following objectives:
1. SMM Design: We will design advanced air-stable SMMs, both chiral and achiral, characterized by high magnetic anisotropy barriers, blocking temperatures, and luminescent attributes. These materials will be shaped into thin films.
2. Magneto-Optics: We will investigate the influence of magnetic anisotropy on magnetic-field-dependent photoluminescence. The uniqueness of our approach lies in the utilization of a unique high-magnetic field setup, enabling us to explore uncharted magneto-optical phenomena in these molecular systems. Our exploration includes optical readout through luminescence under the influence of both steady-state and pulsed magnetic fields.
3. Electric Field Impact: In chiral SMMs exhibiting ferroelectric behavior, we will examine the impact of electric fields on luminescence, an uncharted territory for molecule-based materials.

Our multidisciplinary approach draws from the expertise of chemists, physicists, and materials scientists. We strategically employ Schiff-base and reduced Schiff-base ligands for lanthanide complexes, enabling us to enhance magnetic anisotropy, sensitize luminescence, and introduce chirality.
In summary, the LAGUNA project represents a significant step forward in the creation of multifunctional materials. These materials have the potential to advance our understanding of the interplay between magnetism and luminescence in lanthanide complexes while contributing to the development of future data storage technologies.