Tunable array of magnetic nano-crystals designed at the atomic scale:
engineering high performance magnetic materials using hybrid organicinorganic
nano-architectures
The storage density of computer hard drives is growing so rapidly that for new computer drive generations
not only optimized materials are needed but also new concepts for data storage. Last decades, higher storage
densities on computer disks were achieved by optimization of magnetic materials, i.e. the magnetic grains
were gradually shrunk while, at the same time, the magnetic stability was increased. The nowadays smallest
storage unit is made up 100 to 600 grains, that form one bit. Each grain is about 10 nanometres in size. These
grains are arranged next to each other on substrates that are plated with magnetic metals. Decreasing further
the size and amount of the grains necessary for one bit is now irremediably affecting the signal/noise ratio,
weaker signals leading to loss of information. Therefore, new concepts for magnetic storage media have to
be found.
Material reduced size leads to novel properties totally different from bulk properties. In our project we will
engineer matter at the atomic and molecular level and develop advanced construction methods to build new
functionalised materials for magnetic storage. We propose a multidisciplinary research project, that aims to
explore various aspects related to magnetic properties of highly organised organic-inorganic nanoarchitectures.
We will engineer tunable supramolecular assemblies to host and organise inorganic shape-selected
magnetic nanocrystals. Due to the sensitive interrelation of magnetism and the atomic structure of
these systems, any induced nanostructure modification will result in changes of the magnetism. Our ability to
tailor nanocrystal size, composition, structure, shape and position will allow us to tune magnetism at the
atomic scale. We will thus be able to design and produce new high density hybrid nano-architectures having
gigantic magnetic performance, i.e., huge magnetostatic energy stored and a high blocking temperature. This
research therefore has the potential to make a considerable impact on the high density data storage industry
This type of work is of great interest to enhance the performances of organic devices.
The formation of organic architectures based on electron-donating and -accepting
molecules constitute a model system to explore photoinduced charge transfer at the
molecular level and be useful for future photovoltaic devices.