An electrically controlled single-molecule spin switch

Wantong Huang, Kwan Ho Au-Yeung, Paul Greule, Máté Stark, Christoph Sürgers, Wolfgang Wernsdorfer, Roberto Robles, Nicolas Lorente and Philip Willke ()
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Wantong Huang: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
Kwan Ho Au-Yeung: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
Paul Greule: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
Máté Stark: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
Christoph Sürgers: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
Wolfgang Wernsdorfer: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
Roberto Robles: Centro de Física de Materiales CFM/MPC (CSIC-UPV/EHU)
Nicolas Lorente: Centro de Física de Materiales CFM/MPC (CSIC-UPV/EHU)
Philip Willke: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Precise control of spin states and spin-spin interactions in atomic-scale magnetic structures is crucial for spin-based quantum technologies. A promising architecture is molecular spin systems, which offer chemical tunability and scalability for larger structures. An essential component, in addition to the qubits themselves, is switchable qubit-qubit interactions that can be individually addressed. In this study, we present an electrically controlled single-molecule spin switch based on a bistable complex adsorbed on an insulating magnesium oxide film. The complex, which consists of an Fe adatom coupled to an iron phthalocyanine (FePc) molecule, can be reversibly switched between two stable states using bias voltage pulses locally via the tip of a scanning tunnelling microscope. Inelastic electron tunnelling spectroscopy measurements and density functional theory calculations reveal a distinct change between a paramagnetic and a non-magnetic spin configuration. Lastly, we demonstrate the functionality of this molecular spin switch by using it to modify the electron spin resonance frequency of a nearby target FePc spin within a spin-spin coupled structure. Thus, we showcase how individual molecular machines can be utilized to create scalable and tunable quantum devices.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-63574-0

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