NUS researchers have created a new butterfly-shaped magnetic nanographene that could improve quantum computing by enabling better control of electron spins and extending the coherence times of quantum bits. This breakthrough is expected to advance quantum information technologies.
The magnetic properties of nanographene come from the arrangement of its special electrons, known as π-electrons. However, it’s challenging to make these properties work together to create multiple correlated spins. The researchers created a new kind of magnetic nanographene that has both ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic properties, with a butterfly shape measuring approximately 3 nanometres in size.
To produce this butterfly nanographene, the researchers designed a special molecule precursor via conventional chemistry and then used it for on-surface synthesis. This approach allowed them to precisely control the shape and structure of the nanographene at the atomic level.
This new technique helps scientists directly probe entangled spins to understand how the nanographene’s magnetism works at the atomic scale. The study opens up new possibilities for precisely controlling magnetic properties at the smallest scale, leading to exciting advancements in quantum materials research.
The researchers hope to measure spin dynamics and coherence time at the single-molecule level and manipulate these entangled spins coherently. This could lead to more powerful information processing and storage capabilities.
Source: https://scitechdaily.com/magnetic-butterfly-scientists-unveil-groundbreaking-design-concept-for-next-generation-quantum-materials/