Making hybrid [n]-rotaxanes as supramolecular arrays of molecular electron spin qubits

DOI: 10.1038/ncomms10240

Authors: Antonio Fernandez (The University of Manchester) , Jesus Ferrando Soria (University of Manchester) , Eufemio Moreno Pineda (The University of Manchester) , Floriana Tuna (The University of Manchester) , Iñigo J. Vitorica-Yrezabal (The University of Manchester) , Christiane Knappke (University of Oxford) , Jakub Ujma (The University of Manchester) , Chris Muryn (University of Manchester) , Grigore A. Timco (The University of Manchester) , Perdita E. Barran (The University of Manchester) , Arzhang Ardavan (University of Oxford) , Richard E. P. Winpenny (The University of Manchester)
Co-authored by industrial partner: No

Type: Journal Paper
Journal: Nature Communications , VOL 7

State: Published (Approved)
Published: January 2016

Abstract: Quantum information processing (QIP) would require that the individual units involved—qubits—communicate to other qubits while retaining their identity. In many ways this resembles the way supramolecular chemistry brings together individual molecules into interlocked structures, where the assembly has one identity but where the individual components are still recognizable. Here a fully modular supramolecular strategy has been to link hybrid organic–inorganic [2]- and [3]-rotaxanes into still larger [4]-, [5]- and [7]-rotaxanes. The ring components are heterometallic octanuclear [Cr7NiF8(O2CtBu)16]– coordination cages and the thread components template the formation of the ring about the organic axle, and are further functionalized to act as a ligand, which leads to large supramolecular arrays of these heterometallic rings. As the rings have been proposed as qubits for QIP, the strategy provides a possible route towards scalable molecular electron spin devices for QIP. Double electron–electron resonance experiments demonstrate inter-qubit interactions suitable for mediating two-qubit quantum logic gates.

Subject Areas: Chemistry, Materials, Information and Communication Technology


Instruments: I19-Small Molecule Single Crystal Diffraction

Added On: 01/02/2016 16:26

Documents:
ncomms10240.pdf

Discipline Tags:

Quantum Materials Information & Communication Technologies Chemistry Materials Science Organometallic Chemistry

Technical Tags:

Diffraction Single Crystal X-ray Diffraction (SXRD)