Enabling single qubit addressability in a molecular semiconductor comprising gold-supported organic radicals

A self-assembled metallo-macrocycle two-qubit spin system

A self-assembled, charge-neutral dicopper(II) metallo-macrocycle with a near degenerate singlet-triplet ground state is a prototype molecular two-qubit system. The weakly-coupled spin centres delivered a long phase memory time of 5.4 μs, and each spin can be selectively switched using an applied potential providing a convenient means to modulate the quantum levels.

Electrostatic vs. electronic interactions within oxidized multinuclear Pt(bipyridine)(dithiolene) complexes

Bi- and trimetallic platinum(bipyridine)(dithiolene) complexes involving different organic linkers between the redox active platinum(dithiolene) moieties have been synthesized and studied by electrochemistry and spectroelectrochemistry. Cyclic voltammetry experiments carried out on these multinuclear complexes in dichloromethane using [NBu4][PF6] as the supporting salt show only one oxidation process involving the metallacycles. Nevertheless, spectro-electrochemical studies, carried out under the same conditions, show a different evolution of the spectra during oxidation depending on the position of the metallacycles on the phenyl ring. For instance, only the 1,3-disubtituted (Pt21,3-P) and 1,3,5-trisubstituted (Pt31,3,5-P) complexes show the growth of an absorption band in the NIR region upon oxidation while it was not observed for the other complexes. In contrast, electrochemical studies carried out using the poorly coordinating supporting electrolyte, [Na][B(C6H4(CF3)2)4], indicate sequential oxidation of the redox centers with ΔE values varying according to the nature of the bridge and the distance between metal centers. For all the investigated multinuclear complexes, spectro-electrochemical experiments performed in the presence of [Na][B(C6H4(CF3)2)4] show an absorption band in the NIR region consistent with appreciable electrostatic effects and charge delocalization in the mixed valent intermediates.

Room-Temperature Quantum Coherence of Reversible Photo-Generated Radical and its Film

Electron spin qubits are becoming an important research direction in the field of quantum computing and information storage. However, the quantum decoherence has seriously hindered the development of this field. So far, few qubits exhibit long phase memory time (Tm), and even fewer qubits that can reach room temperature. Some reports show that the coherence times of radicals are generally long, so radicals may be the preferred spin carriers for qubits. Here, we demonstrate the qubit properties of a photogenerated radical (1 a) based on 2,4,6-Tri(4-pyridyl)-1,3,5-triazine (tpt, 1). More importantly, the photogenerated radical is a spin self-diluting complex, which the dilution is generally used in the investigation of qubits to reduce the interference of environment on qubits in order to overcome the decoherence of qubits. It is surprised that radical tpt has a stable Tm=1.1 μs above 20 K, even keep it to room temperature. In addition, the tpt-film prepared by the vacuum evaporation is significantly increase the T1 and Tm at low temperature.

Molecular One- and Two-Qubit Systems with Very Long Coherence Times

General-purpose quantum computation and quantum simulation require multi-qubit architectures with precisely defined, robust interqubit interactions, coupled with local addressability. This is an unsolved challenge, primarily due to scalability issues. These issues often derive from poor control over interqubit interactions. Molecular systems are promising materials for the realization of large-scale quantum architectures, due to their high degree of positionability and the possibility to precisely tailor interqubit interactions. The simplest quantum architecture is the two-qubit system, with which quantum gate operations can be implemented. To be viable, a two-qubit system must possess long coherence times, the interqubit interaction must be well defined and the two qubits must also be addressable individually within the same quantum manipulation sequence. Here results are presented on the investigation of the spin dynamics of chlorinated triphenylmethyl organic radicals, in particular the perchlorotriphenylmethyl (PTM) radical, a mono-functionalized PTM, and a biradical PTM dimer. Extraordinarily long ensemble coherence times up to 148 µs are found at all temperatures below 100 K. Two-qubit and, importantly, individual qubit addressability in the biradical system are demonstrated. These results underline the potential of molecular materials for the development of quantum architectures.

Magnetic hysteresis and large coercivity in bisbenzimidazole radical-bridged dilanthanide complexes

A judicious combination of radical ligands innate to diffuse spin orbitals with paramagnetic metal ions elicits strong magnetic exchange coupling which leads to properties important for future technologies. This metal-radical approach aids in effective magnetic communication of especially lanthanide ions as their 4f orbitals are contracted and not readily accessible. Notably, a high spin density on the donor atoms of the radical is required for strong coupling. Such molecules are extremely rare owing to high reactivity rendering their isolation challenging. Herein, we present two unprecedented series of bisbenzimidazole-based dilanthanide complexes [(Cp*2Ln)2(μ-Bbim)] (1-Ln = Gd, Tb, Dy, Bbim = 2,2'-bisbenzimidazole) and [K(crypt-222)][(Cp*2Ln)2(μ-Bbim˙)] -(2-Ln = Gd, Tb, Dy), where the latter contains the first Bbim3-˙ radical matched with any paramagnetic metal ion. The magnetic exchange constant for 2-Gd of J = -1.96(2) cm-1 suggests strong antiferromagnetic Gd-radical coupling, whereas the lanthanides in 1-Gd are essentially uncoupled. Ab initio calculations on 2-Tb and 2-Dy uncovered coupling strengths of -4.8 and -1.8 cm-1. 1-Dy features open hysteresis loops with a coercive field of Hc of 0.11 T where the single-molecule magnetism can be attributed to the single-ion effect due to lack of coupling. Excitingly, pairing the effective magnetic coupling with the strong magnetic anisotropy of Dy results in magnetic hysteresis with a blocking temperature TB of 5.5 K and coercive field HC of 0.54 T, ranking 2-Dy as the second best dinuclear single-molecule magnet containing an organic radical bridge. A Bbim4- species is formed electrochemically hinting at the accessibility of Bbim-based redox-active materials.

Indeno[2,1-a]fluorene-11,12-dione radical anions:synthesis,characterization and property

The one-electron reduction reactions of indeno[2,1-a]fluorene-11,12-dione ( IF ) with various alkali metals bring about the radical anion salts. The different structures and properties are characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) measurements and physical property measurement system (PPMS). IF •- K + (18-c-6) is regarded as a one-dimensional magnetic chain through C-H-C interaction. Theoretical calculations and magnetic results prove that [ IF •- K + (15-c-5)] 2 is a dimer with an open-shell ground state. IF •- Na + (15-c-5) and IF •- K + (cryptand) are monoradical anion salts. IF 2 •- Li + possesses unique π-stack structure with an interplanar separation less than 3.46 Å, making it a semiconductor ( δ RT = 1.9 Χ 10 -4 S•cm -1 ). This work gives a wealth of insights into multifunctional radical anions, and makes the design and development of different functional radicals attractive.

Open-Ended Metallodithiolene Complexes with the 1,2,4,5-Tetrakis(diphenylphosphino)benzene Ligand: Modular Building Elements for the Synthesis of Multimetal Complexes

Open-ended, singly metalated dithiolene complexes with 1,2,4,5-tetrakis(diphenylphosphino)benzene (tpbz) are prepared either by ligand transfer to [Cl₂M(tpbz)] from (R₂C₂S₂)SnR′₂ (R = CN, R′ = Me; R = Me, R′ = ⁿBu) or by a direct reaction between tpbz and [M(S₂C₂R₂)₂] (M = Ni, Pd, Pt; R = Ph, p-anisyl) in a 1:1 ratio. The formation of dimetallic [(R₂C₂S₂)M(tpbz)M(S₂C₂R₂)] attends these syntheses in modest amounts, but the open-ended compounds are readily separated by silica chromatography. As affirmed by X-ray crystallographic characterization of numerous members of the set, the [(R₂C₂S₂)M(tpbz)] compounds show dithiolene ligands in their fully reduced ene-1,2-dithiolate form conjoined with divalent Group 10 ions. Minor amounts of octahedral [(Ph₂C₂S₂)₂Pt^IV(tpbz)], a presumed intermediate, are isolated from the preparation of [(Ph₂C₂S₂)Pt^II(tpbz)]. Heterodimetallic [(Ph₂C₂S₂)Pt(tpbz)Ni(S₂C₂Me₂)] is prepared from [(Ph₂C₂S₂)Pt^II(tpbz)]; its cyclic voltammogram, upon anodic scanning, shows two pairs of closely spaced, but resolved, 1e^– oxidations corresponding first to [R₂C₂S₂^2–] – 1e^– → [R₂C₂S^•S^–] and then to [R₂C₂S^•S^–] – 1e^– → [R₂(C=S)₂]. The open diphosphine of [(R₂C₂S₂)M(tpbz)] can be oxidized to afford open-ended [(R₂C₂S₂)M(tpbzE₂)] (E = O, S). Synthesis of the octahedral [(dppbO₂)₃Ni][I₃]₂ [dppbO₂ = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphoryl)benzene] suggests that the steric profile of [(R₂C₂S₂)M(tpbzE₂)] is moderated enough that three could be accommodated as ligands around a metal ion.

Open-ended metallodithiolene complexes with 1,2,4,5-tetrakis(diphenylphosphino)benzene (tpbz) are prepared either by the reaction of [M(S₂C₂R₂)₂] with tpbz in a 1:1 ratio or by transmetalation from [(R₂C₂S₂)SnR′₂] to [Cl₂M(tpbz)]. ³¹P NMR spectroscopy provides a clear diagnostic with the metalated (∼55 ppm) and open-phosphine (−14 ppm) signals. These compounds may be metalated at their open end to produce heterodimetallic compounds, or the open phosphines may be oxidized with chalcogen donors to the corresponding phosphine oxides or sulfides.

Ligand-Centered Triplet Diradical Supported by a Binuclear Palladium(II) Dipyrrindione

Oligopyrroles form a versatile class of redox-active ligands and electron reservoirs. Although the stabilization of radicals within oligopyrrolic π systems is more common for macrocyclic ligands, bidentate dipyrrindiones are emerging as compact platforms for one-electron redox chemistry in transition-metal complexes. We report the synthesis of a bis(aqua) palladium(II) dipyrrindione complex and its deprotonation-driven dimerization to form a hydroxo-bridged binuclear complex in the presence of water or triethylamine. Electrochemical, spectroelectrochemical, and computational analyses of the binuclear complex indicate the accessibility of two quasi-reversible ligand-centered reduction processes. The product of a two-electron chemical reduction by cobaltocene was isolated and characterized. In the solid state, this cobaltocenium salt features a folded dianionic complex that maintains the hydroxo bridges between the divalent palladium centers. X-band and Q-band EPR spectroscopic experiments and DFT computational analysis allow assignment of the dianionic species as a diradical with spin density almost entirely located on the two dipyrrindione ligands. As established from the EPR temperature dependence, the associated exchange coupling is weak and antiferromagnetic (J ≈ −2.5 K), which results in a predominantly triplet state at the temperatures at which the measurements have been performed.

The coordination and redox chemistry of the dipyrrindione scaffold, which is found in several heme metabolites, is investigated in heteroleptic palladium(II) complexes. The bis(aqua) complex undergoes a deprotonation-driven dimerization to form a hydroxo-bridged binuclear species. Crystallographic, electrochemical, and spectroscopic data, as well as computational analysis, demonstrate that a two-electron reduction of the binuclear complex leads to a diradical dianion with spin density delocalized over the two dipyrrindione ligands.

Electronic structure study of divanadium complexes with rigid covalent coordination: potential molecular qubits with slow spin relaxation

The electronic structures of homovalent [V₂(μ-S₂)₂(R₂dtc)₄] (R = Et, ⁱBu) and mixed-valent [V₂(μ-S₂)₂(R₂dtc)₄]⁺ are reported here. The soft-donor, eight-coordinate ligand shell combined with the fully delocalised ground state provides a highly rigid and covalent environment that will nurture long spin relaxation times in vanadyl-based molecular qubits.

Blatter-Radical-Grafted Mesoporous Silica as Prospective Nanoplatform for Spin Manipulation at Ambient Conditions

Quantum computing and quantum information processing (QC/QIP) crucially depend on the availability of suitable quantum bits (qubits) and methods of their manipulation. Most qubit candidates known to date are not applicable at ambient conditions. Herein, we propose radical-grafted mesoporous silica as a versatile and prospective nanoplatform for spin-based QC/QIP. Extremely stable Blatter-type organic radicals are used, whose electron spin decoherence time is profoundly long even at room temperature (up to Tm ≈2.3 μs), thus allowing efficient spin manipulation by microwave pulses. The mesoporous structure of such composites is nuclear-spin free and provides additional opportunities of embedding guest molecules into the channels. Robustness and tunability of these materials promotes them as highly promising nanoplatforms for future QC/QIP developments.

Selectively Addressable Photogenerated Spin Qubit Pairs in DNA Hairpins

Photoinduced electron transfer can produce radical pairs having two quantum entangled electron spins that can act as spin qubits in quantum information applications. Manipulation of these spin qubits requires selective addressing of each spin using microwave pulses. In this work, photogenerated spin qubit pairs are prepared within chromophore-modified DNA hairpins with varying spin qubit distances, and are probed using transient EPR spectroscopy. By performing pulse-EPR measurements on the shortest hairpin, selective addressing of each spin qubit comprising the pair is demonstrated. Furthermore, these spin qubit pairs have coherence times of more than 4 μs, which provides a comfortable time window for performing complex spin manipulations for quantum information applications. The applicability of these DNA-based photogenerated two-qubit systems is discussed in the context of quantum gate operations, specifically the controlled-NOT gate.

Metal-ligand covalency enables room temperature molecular qubit candidates

Metal–ligand covalency enables observation of coherent spin dynamics to room temperature in a series of vanadium(iv) and copper(ii) catechol complexes.

Harnessing synthetic chemistry to design electronic spin-based qubits, the smallest unit of a quantum information system, enables us to probe fundamental questions regarding spin relaxation dynamics. We sought to probe the influence of metal–ligand covalency on spin–lattice relaxation, which comprises the upper limit of coherence time. Specifically, we studied the impact of the first coordination sphere on spin–lattice relaxation through a series of four molecules featuring V–S, V–Se, Cu–S, and Cu–Se bonds, the Ph₄P⁺ salts of the complexes [V(C₆H₄S₂)₃]^2– (1), [Cu(C₆H₄S₂)₂]^2– (2), [V(C₆H₄Se₂)₃]^2– (3), and [Cu(C₆H₄Se₂)₂]^2– (4). The combined results of pulse electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy and ac magnetic susceptibility studies demonstrate the influence of greater M–L covalency, and consequently spin-delocalization onto the ligand, on elongating spin–lattice relaxation times. Notably, we observe the longest spin–lattice relaxation times in 2, and spin echos that survive until room temperature in both copper complexes (2 and 4).

The Environment-Dependent Behavior of the Blatter Radical at the Metal-Molecule Interface

Stable organic radicals have potential applications for building organic spintronic devices. To fulfill this potential, the interface between organic radicals and metal electrodes must be well characterized. Here, through a combined effort that includes synthesis, scanning tunneling microscopy, X-ray spectroscopy, and single-molecule conductance measurements, we comprehensively probe the electronic interaction between gold metal electrodes and a benchtop stable radical-the Blatter radical. We find that despite its open-shell character and having a half-filled orbital close to the Fermi level, the radical is stable on a gold substrate under ultrahigh vacuum. We observe a Kondo resonance arising from the radical and spectroscopic signatures of its half-filled orbitals. By contrast, in solution-based single-molecule conductance measurements, the radical character is lost through oxidation with charge transfer occurring from the molecule to metal. Our experiments show that the stability of radical states can be very sensitive to the environment around the molecule.