Single-molecule magnets on a polymeric thin film as magnetic quantum bits

Increasing information storage to densities past 100 Gbit inch^-2 has prompted major research activities in magnetic recording. The demand of magnetic storage media with higher areal density, may push the use of monodispersed and oriented large single-molecule magnets (SMM) with magnetic properties characteristic of nanoscale magnetic particles. If properly addressed into a disk support, SMM may represent nanoscale magnetic particles of a sharply defined size that offer the potential access to the ultimate high-density information storage devices or to quantum computing applications. Here we show the obtaining of thin films that consist of a polycarbonate matrix containing molecularly dispersed Mn₁₂ complexes as single-molecule magnets. After treatment of such films with different solvent vapors, the swollen polymer allows the self-organization of the polymeric matrix and the Mn₁₂ molecules. This fact allows the movement of the Mn₁₂ molecules and their location on the surface either as individual molecules ο in the form of molecular aggregates. Thus, this simple methodology permits the obtaining of nanocomposite thin films in which SMM are preferentially aligned with respect the film surface showing furthermore isolated SMM on the surface, as revealed by AFM and MFM images. Moreover, the advantageous properties of polymeric matrices, such as flexibility, transparency and low density, make this type of materials very interesting for potential applications.