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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 91 records · Page 5
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2021

Magnetic ground state of the one-dimensional ferromagnetic chain compounds M (NCS) 2 (thiourea) 2 (M=Ni,Co)

The magnetic properties of the two isostructural molecule-based magnets— Ni ( NCS ) 2 ( thiourea ) 2 , S = 1 [ thiourea = SC ( NH 2 ) 2 ] and Co ( NCS ) 2 ( thiourea ) 2 , S = 3 / 2 —are characterized using several techniques in order to rationalize their relationship with structural parameters and to ascertain magnetic changes caused by substitution of the spin. Zero-field heat capacity and muon-spin relaxation measurements reveal low-temperature long-range ordering in both compounds, in addition to Ising-like ( D < 0 ) single-ion anisotropy ( D Co ~ - 100 K, D Ni ~ - 10 K). Crystal and electronic structure, combined with dc-field magnetometry, affirm highly quasi-one-dimensional behavior, with ferromagnetic intrachain exchange interactions J Co ≈ + 4 K and J Ni ~ + 100 K and weak antiferromagnetic interchain exchange, on the order of J ' ~ - 0.1 K. Furthermore, electron charge- and spin-density mapping reveals through-space exchange as a mechanism to explain the large discrepancy in J -values despite, from a structural perspective, the highly similar exchange pathways in both materials. Both species can be compared to the similar compounds M Cl 2 ( thiourea ) 4 , M = Ni(II) (DTN) and Co(II) (DTC), where DTN is known to harbor two magnetic-field-induced quantum critical points. Direct comparison of DTN and DTC with the compounds studied here shows that substituting the halide Cl - ion for the NCS - ion results in a dramatic change in both the structural and magnetic properties.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Synthesis and magnetic properties of the Shastry-Sutherland family R 2 Be 2 SiO 7 ( R = Nd , Sm , Gd-Yb )

Compounds forming the quasi-two-dimensional Shastry-Sutherland lattice (SSL) have attracted significant experimental and theoretical attention in the field of frustrated magnetism. This is primarily due to their realization of an exactly soluble J 1 –J 2 orthogonal dimer model capable of hosting magnetic order, dimer singlet, and plaquette singlet phases in zero applied field and their complex magnetic phase diagrams with fractional magnetization plateaus and possible superfluid and supersolid phases found between the plateau states. The discovery and characterization of SSL compounds based on rare-earth magnetic ions provide a direct route to study the stability and properties of these exotic magnetic phases in systems with a variety of different magnetic anisotropies. In this paper, we discuss the synthesis and magnetic characterization of polycrystalline samples of the R 2 ⁢Be 2 ⁢SiO 7 family, where R=Nd, Sm, and Gd-Yb. All family members crystallize in the space group $P\bar{⁢4}⁢2_1⁢m$ (113) and show no signs of long-range magnetic order above 2 K, except for R=Tb which orders antiferromagnetically at 2.6 K.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Exploring a New Regime of Molecular Orbital Physics in 4⁢d Cluster Magnets with Resonant Inelastic X-Ray Scattering

Molecular orbital systems with clusters of heavy transition metal (TM) ions are one of the most important classes of model materials for studying the interplay between local physics and effects of itinerancy. Despite a large number of candidates identified in the family of 4⁢d TM materials, an understanding of their physics from competing microscopic energy scales is still missing. Here, we bridge this gap by reporting the first resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS) measurement on a well-known series of Ru cluster magnets with a 6⁢H-perovskite structure Ba 3 ⁢M⁢Ru 2 ⁢O 9 (M 3+ = In 3+ , Y 3+ , La 3+ ) comprised of Ru dimers. In addition to providing a microscopic explanation for their anomalous magnetic properties, our RIXS measurements combined with theoretical modeling uncover a new regime of molecular orbital physics where the combined effect of large hopping and small spin-orbit coupling results in highly fragile electronic states in the Ru-dimer compounds directly manifested as an abrupt change in the RIXS spectrum accompanying a tiny change in the local structure tuned by the M-site ion. This unique combination of energy scales found only in the 4⁢d but not the 5⁢d cluster magnets highlights the value of these materials as a new platform for studying quantum phase transition involving molecular orbitals.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Properties of molecular clumps and cores in colliding magnetized flows

ABSTRACT We simulate the formation of molecular clouds in colliding flows of warm neutral medium with the adaptive mesh refinement code flash in eight simulations with varying initial magnetic field strength, between 0.01–5 μG. We include a chemical network to treat heating and cooling and to follow the formation of molecular gas. The initial magnetic field strength influences the fragmentation of the forming cloud because it prohibits motions perpendicular to the field direction and hence impacts the formation of large-scale filamentary structures. Molecular clump and core formation occurs anyhow. We identify 3D clumps and 3D cores, which are defined as connected, CO-rich regions. Additionally, 3D cores are heavily shielded. While we do not claim those 3D objects to be directly comparable to observations, this enables us to analyse their full virial state. With increasing field strength, we find more fragments with a smaller average mass; yet the dynamics of the forming clumps and cores only weakly depends on the initial magnetic field strength. The molecular clumps are mostly unbound, probably transient objects, which are weakly confined by ram pressure or thermal pressure, indicating that they are swept up by the turbulent flow. They experience significant fluctuations in the mass flux through their surface, such that the Eulerian reference frame shows a dominant time-dependent term due to their indistinct nature. We define the cores to encompass highly shielded molecular gas. Most cores are in gravitational-kinetic equipartition and are well described by the common virial parameter $\alpha _\mathrm{vir}$, while some undergo minor dispersion by kinetic surface effects.

Weis, M. (ORCID:0000000256838860)↗
NASA NTRS1992

The nearby 2-solar mass Bok globule LBN 11 - Sub-sonic molecular clumps in a magnetic environment

A multiwavelength study of the nearby small Bok globule LBN 11 is performed in order to investigate the relationship between embedded magnetic fields, cloud structure, and star formation. Optical polarimetry of background stars is used to characterize and trace the embedded magnetic field direction. High-dispersion CO isotopic mapping is employed to determine the radial density distribution of the gas, measure cloud rotation, and identify individual gas clumps. CS and SO mapping revealed dense cores within the (C-13)O clumps. Analysis of coadded IRAS images reveal the cloud to be free of current or recent star formation: there are no IR point sources of sufficient flux or proper colors to signify young stars associated with the cloud. The molecular line maps show the cloud to be extremely clumpy. Clumps are found to range in size from 0.2 pc for the largest CO clump to about 0.04 pc for the smallest CS feature. It is concluded that, at least in the envelope of the cloud, the magnetic field and the CO clumps are coupled.

Clemens, Dan P.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Near‐Room‐Temperature Magnetoelectric Coupling via Spin Crossover in an Iron(II) Complex

Abstract Magnetoelectric coupling is achieved near room temperature in a spin crossover Fe II molecule‐based compound, [Fe(1bpp) 2 ](BF 4 ) 2 . Large atomic displacements resulting from Jahn–Teller distortions induce a change in the molecule dipole moment when switching between high‐spin and low‐spin states leading to a step‐wise change in the electric polarization and dielectric constant. For temperatures in the region of bistability, the changes in magnetic and electrical properties are induced with a remarkably low magnetic field of 3 T. This result represents a successful expansion of magnetoelectric spin crossovers towards ambient conditions. Moreover, the observed 0.3–0.4 mC m −2 changes in the H ‐induced electric polarization suggest that the high strength of the coupling obtained via this route is accessible not just at cryogenic temperatures but also near room temperature, a feature that is especially appealing in the light of practical applications.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2021

Paramagnetic Molecular Semiconductors Combining Anisotropic Magnetic Ions with TCNQ Radical Anions

We report the synthesis, magnetic properties, and transport properties of paramagnetic metal complexes, [Co(DMF) 4 (TCNQ) 2 ](TCNQ) 2 (1), [La(DMF) 8 (TCNQ)](TCNQ) 5 (2), and [Nd(DMF) 7 (TCNQ)](TCNQ) 5 (3) (DMF = N,N-dimethylformamide, TCNQ = 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane). All three compounds contain fractionally charged TCNQ δ– anions (0 < δ < 1) and mononuclear complex cations in which the coordination environment of a metal center includes several DMF molecules and one or two terminally coordinated TCNQ δ– anions. The coordinated TCNQ δ– anions participate in π–π stacking interactions with noncoordinated TCNQ δ– anions, forming columnar substructures that provide efficient charge-transporting pathways. Furthermore, temperature-dependent conductivity measurements demonstrate that all three compounds exhibit semiconducting behavior.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2023

Light- and Chemical-Doping-Induced Magnetic Behavior of Eu Molecular Systems

Variable temperature electron paramagnetic resonance (VT-EPR) was used to investigate the role of the environment and oxidation states of several coordinated Eu compounds. We find that while Eu(III) chelating complexes are diamagnetic, simple chemical reduction results in the formation of paramagnetic species. In agreement with the distorted D 3h symmetry of Eu molecular complexes investigated in this study, the EPR spectrum of reduced complexes showed axially symmetric signals (g ⊥ = 2.001 and g ∥ = 1.994) that were successfully simulated with two Eu isotopes with nuclear spin 5/2 ( 151 Eu and 153 Eu with 48% and 52% natural abundance, respectively) and nuclear g-factors 151 Eu/ 153 Eu = 2.27. Illumination of water-soluble complex Eu(dipic) 3 at 4 K led to the ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT) that resulted in the formation of Eu(II) in a rhombic environment (g x = 2.006, g y = 1.995, g z = 1.988). The existence of LMCT affects the luminescence of Eu(dipic) 3 , and pre-reduction of the complex to Eu(II)(dipic) 3 reversibly reduces red luminescence with the appearance of a weak CT blue luminescence. Furthermore, encapsulation of a large portion of the dipic ligand with Cucurbit[7]uril, a pumpkin-shaped macrocycle, inhibited ligand-to-metal charge transfer, preventing the formation of Eu(II) upon illumination.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2021

Slow spin relaxation in single endohedral fullerene molecules

Well-protected magnetization, tunable quantum states, and long spin-relaxation time are desired for the use of magnetic molecules in spintronics and quantum information technologies. In this work, endohedral fullerene molecules M@C 28 with different transition-metal cores were explored through systematic first-principles calculations and spin dynamics analyses. Many of them have bias-tunable structure, stable magnetization, and sizable magnetic anisotropy energy. Furthermore, some of them may have spin-relaxation time up to several milliseconds for their quantum spin states at high temperature (~10 K) after full consideration of spin-vibration couplings. In conclusion, our results suggest that these M@C 28 provide a rich pool of single-molecule magnets for diverse applications.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2022

Competing Easy-Axis Anisotropies Impacting Magnetic Tunnel Junction-Based Molecular Spintronics Devices (MTJMSDs)

Molecular spintronics devices (MSDs) attempt to harness molecules’ quantum state, size, and configurable attributes for application in computer devices—a quest that began more than 70 years ago. In the vast number of theoretical studies and limited experimental attempts, MSDs have been found to be suitable for application in memory devices and futuristic quantum computers. MSDs have recently also exhibited intriguing spin photovoltaic-like phenomena, signaling their potential application in cost-effective and novel solar cell technologies. The molecular spintronics field’s major challenge is the lack of mass-fabrication methods producing robust magnetic molecule connections with magnetic electrodes of different anisotropies. Another main challenge is the limitations of conventional theoretical methods for understanding experimental results and designing new devices. Magnetic tunnel junction-based molecular spintronics devices (MTJMSDs) are designed by covalently connecting paramagnetic molecules across an insulating tunneling barrier. The insulating tunneling barrier serves as a mechanical spacer between two ferromagnetic (FM) electrodes of tailorable magnetic anisotropies to allow molecules to undergo many intriguing phenomena. Our experimental studies showed that the paramagnetic molecules could produce strong antiferromagnetic coupling between two FM electrodes, leading to a dramatic large-scale impact on the magnetic electrode itself. Recently, we showed that the Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) was effective in providing plausible insights into the observation of unusual magnetic domains based on the role of single easy-axis magnetic anisotropy. Here, we experimentally show that the response of a paramagnetic molecule is dramatically different when connected to FM electrodes of different easy-axis anisotropies. Motivated by our experimental studies, here, we report on an MCS study investigating the impact of the simultaneous presence of two easy-axis anisotropies on MTJMSD equilibrium properties. In-plane easy-axis anisotropy produced multiple magnetic phases of opposite spins. The multiple magnetic phases vanished at higher thermal energy, but the MTJMSD still maintained a higher magnetic moment because of anisotropy. The out-of-plane easy-axis anisotropy caused a dominant magnetic phase in the FM electrode rather than multiple magnetic phases. The simultaneous application of equal-magnitude in-plane and out-of-plane easy-axis anisotropies on the same electrode negated the anisotropy effect. Our experimental and MCS study provides insights for designing and understanding new spintronics-based devices.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2021

Molecular-field-theory fits to magnetic susceptibilities of antiferromagnetic GdCu 2 Si 2 , CuO, LiCrO 2 , and α-CaCr 2 O 4 single crystals below their Néel temperatures

A recently-developed molecular field theory (MFT) has been used to fit single-crystal magnetic susceptibility χ versus temperature T data below the respective antiferromagnetic ordering temperature T N for a variety of collinear and coplanar noncollinear Heisenberg antiferromagnets. The spins in the system are assumed to interact by Heisenberg exchange and to be identical and crystallographically equivalent. The fitting parameters for χ(T ) of collinear antiferromagnets are measurable quantities: the Weiss temperature θ p in the Curie-Weiss law, TN, χ(T N ), and the spin S. For coplanar noncollinear helix and cycloid structures, an additional fitting parameter is the turn angle between layers of ferromagnetically-aligned spins. Here MFT fits to anisotropic χ(T) data from the literature for single crystals of the collinear antiferromagnets GdCu 2 Si 2 and CuO and the noncollinear antiferromagnets LiCrO 2 with a 120° cycloidal structure and α-CaCr 2 O 4 with a 120° helical structure below their respective N´eel temperatures are presented. The MFT fit to the anisotropic χ(T ≤ T N ) data for CuO is poor, whereas the fits to the data for GdCu 2 Si 2 , LiCrO 2 , and α-CaCr 2 O 4 are quite good. The poor fit for CuO is attributed to the influence of strong quantum fluctuations associated with the small Cu spin and the quasi-one-dimensional magnetism that are not taken into account by the MFT. The magnetic contribution to the zero-field heat capacity of the collinear antiferromagnet GdNiGe 3 at T ≤ T N is also fitted by the MFT.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Magnetic molecules lose identity when connected to different combinations of magnetic metal electrodes in MTJ-based molecular spintronics devices (MTJMSD)

Abstract Understanding the magnetic molecules’ interaction with different combinations of metal electrodes is vital to advancing the molecular spintronics field. This paper describes experimental and theoretical understanding showing how paramagnetic single-molecule magnet (SMM) catalyzes long-range effects on metal electrodes and, in that process, loses its basic magnetic properties. For the first time, our Monte Carlo simulations, verified for consistency with regards to experimental studies, discuss the properties of the whole device and a generic paramagnetic molecule analog (GPMA) connected to the combinations of ferromagnet-ferromagnet, ferromagnet-paramagnet, and ferromagnet-antiferromagnet metal electrodes. We studied the magnetic moment vs. magnetic field of GPMA exchange coupled between two metal electrodes along the exposed side edge of cross junction-shaped magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ). We also studied GPMA-metal electrode interfaces’ magnetic moment vs. magnetic field response. We have also found that the MTJ dimension impacted the molecule response. This study suggests that SMM spin at the MTJ exposed sides offers a unique and high-yield method of connecting molecules to virtually endless magnetic and nonmagnetic electrodes and observing unprecedented phenomena in the molecular spintronics field.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2022

Charge transport and antiferromagnetic ordering in nitroxide radical crystals

Nonconjugated radical polymers and small molecules are employed as functional materials in organic electronic devices. Furthermore, the unpaired electrons on these materials have permanent magnetic moments, making these materials promising candidates for organic magnets. Through molecular design, strong antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic ordering have been achieved in conjugated materials. However, the magnetic properties of nonconjugated radical polymers have only shown weak magnetic interactions among the open-shell sites due to the large mean separation between radicals in typical materials. Here, we have designed, synthesized, and crystalized two open-shell molecules that used molecular engineering to control the assembly of the open-shell sites into a strong antiferromagnetically ordered network. The strong antiferromagnetic interaction is evidenced by a high paramagnetic-to-antiferromagnetic transition temperature of ~40 K. This high transition temperature was a result of a high spin exchange coupling constant J of about –20 cm –1 , which was suggested by both experimental and computed coupling parameters given by the energy difference between high-spin and low-spin broken-symmetry structures. In addition, a single-crystal electrical conductivity of ~10 –3 S m –1 was achieved, which indicated the potential of this material in electronic applications. As a result, this work provides an insight into a design strategy for radical-based electronic and magnetic materials through proper molecular structure modifications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1984

Polarization of radio molecular lines and mapping of magnetic field direction

Two level calculations by others for the linear polarizations expected for molecular emission lines from interstellar clouds are extended by considering a number of coupled rotational states of a diatomic molecule. Higher transitions commonly have strengths comparable with that of the J=1-0 transition so that depolarization due to coupling between the various J states might be expected to reduce the predicted linear polarization. The significance of the null observational results obtained recently by Wannier, Scoville, and Barvainis is assessed. The inclusion of additional states tends to decrease the maximum polarizations, though the calculated polarization is increased under conditions for which superthermal excitation occurs.

Deguchi, S.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Magnetic order and disorder in a quasi-two-dimensional quantum Heisenberg antiferromagnet with randomized exchange

In this work, we present an investigation of the effect of randomizing exchange coupling strengths in the S = 1 / 2 square lattice quasi-two-dimensional quantum Heisenberg antiferromagnet (QHAF) ( QuinH ) 2 Cu ( Cl x Br 1 - x ) 4 · 2 H 2 O (QuinH = Quinolinium, C 9 H 8 N + ), with 0 ≤ x ≤ 1 . Pulsed-field magnetization measurements allow us to estimate an effective in-plane exchange strength J in a regime where exchange fosters short-range order, while the temperature T N at which long-range order (LRO) occurs is found using muon-spin relaxation, allowing us to construct a phase diagram for the series. We evaluate the effectiveness of disorder in suppressing T N and the ordered moment size, and we find an extended disordered phase in the region 0.4 ≲ x ≲ 0.8 where no magnetic order occurs. The observed critical substitution levels are accounted for by an energetics-based competition between different local magnetic orders. Furthermore, we demonstrate experimentally that the ground-state disorder is driven by quantum effects of the exchange randomness, which is a feature that has been predicted theoretically and has implications for other disordered quasi-two-dimensional QHAFs.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
NASA NTRS1979

Magnetic diffusion and ionization fractions in dense molecular clouds - The role of charged grains

The physics of magnetic diffusion in dense molecular clouds is examined, with particular attention given to the role of charged grains in controlling the process. The ionization fraction of dense molecular clouds in the presence of grains is determined from considerations of charge exchange, dissociative recombination, radiative recombination and collisions between grains and charged species, and it is found that the inclusion of grains tends to lower the ionization fraction for a given cosmic-ray ionization rate and metal depletion. The kinematics of grain motion is discussed and it is shown that at temperatures less than 30 K, each grain alternates rapidly in charge between -1 and 0 and thus executes periodic motion in a self-gravitating cloud containing a magnetic field. The full kinematics of magnetic diffusion including the motions of ions and electrons are then examined, taking into account the additional viscous force from charged grains, and numerical calculations of the diffusion time scales of uniform, magnetically supported clouds or cloud cores are presented.

Elmegreen, B. G.↗