QUEMOLNA: Quantum effects in molecular nanomagnets

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 03.0615-1

Key words (English)

Molecular magnetism

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: 504880

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 6. Frame Research Programme - 2.2.1 Marie-Curie Research Training Networks

Short description (English)

See abstract

Abstract (English)

The scientific area of interest for the RTN is that of magnetic molecules which are ideal candidates to observe the coexistence of classical and quantum effects in their magnetic properties. This is a relatively new scientific area: it all started ten years ago with a paper published in Nature by the Florence team of the coordinator of the present proposal. The first goal of the RTN is that to go to the heart of our basic knowledge of matter by looking at the foundations of quantum mechanics for the description of the properties of mesoscopic matter. A second goal is that of developing suitable strategies for synthesising complex molecules, and for learning how to organise them on suitable substrates. Further it aims to develop new types of devices by taking advantage of quantum properties. In the background is the possibility of developing novel techniques for the storage and elaboration of information. A fourth reason of interest is the need to develop new investigation techniques for addressing organised arrays of molecules. The RTN aims to provide training in molecular nanomagnetism in a multidisciplinary environment. The teams have largely complementary expertise, ranging from synthetic chemistry to theoretical physics and the groups have a long standing tradition of scientific collaboration and of common involvement in training projects. The goal of the training project is that of producing young researchers who have mastered practical and intellectual techniques that are not commonly found in their disciplinary curricula. In particular it is the goal of the Network to teach young scientists to manipulate objects at the nanometre scale; to make the difficult language of magnetism understandable to chemists, to give them the tool to design new types of molecular based magnetic materials; to teach physicists to understand how subtle structural changes can dramatically influence the properties of the materials.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 03.0615-1