Molecular Materials for Quantum Technologies

Piligkos Group

My group investigates the suitability of coordination complexes based on lanthanide and transition metal ions for use within quantum information technologies. To this purpose we synthesise new coordination complexes and study their structures and electronic properties by a variety of thermodynamic and spectroscopic techniques, with emphasis on magnetic properties. We are especially interested in coherent and incoherent static and dynamic magnetic properties. We also develop software for the modeling of these.

By synthesising derivatives of such complexes we rationalise how a particular molecular design can optimise the dynamic magnetic properties of our complexes.

Further, we also develop protocols for the transfer of these coordination complexes from the solid state to surfaces via, in general, solution chemistry methods. This is a key step for the integration of molecular magnetic materials in quantum information devices.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Coordination chemistry
  • Study of magnetic properties by spectroscopic and thermodynamic techniques
  • Modeling Software
  • Coherent magnetic properties
  • Lanthanide-based magnets
  • Electronic structure of transition metals and of lanthanides
  • Polynuclear systems
  • Lanthanide-based quantum computing devices

 

cw EPR

Continuous wave Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) measurements can be performed on a Bruker Elexsys E500 instrument with an Oxford Cryosystem temperature controller allowing for temperatures in the range 4 - 300 K. Measurements can be performed at L-, X- and Q-band frequencies. The electromagnet of the instrument can generate fields up to 1.7 T.

SQUID 

Magnetometry measurements can be performed on a Quantum-Design MPMS-XL SQUID magnetometer. Measurements can be performed at temperatures ranging from 1.8 - 300 K with fields ranging from 0 - 5 T. For AC susceptibility measurements the oscillating magnetic field can be set to 0.1 - 1500 Hz. 

Luminescence spectroscopy

Magnetic Circular Dichroism

 

 

Michael D. Roy (PostDoc)

Research: As a synthetic inorganic chemist, I am preparing a variety of monometallic and multimetallic complexes of both lanthanides and transition metals to study their electronic and magnetic properties. These projects all aim to inform how we can tune the coherent properties of paramagnetic species through (de)localization and covalent effects, with applications in molecular magnetism and quantum information sciences.

Interests: Outside of work, I enjoy baking, reading, playing games with friends, and getting to know Copenhagen.

Athanasios Mavromagoulos (PostDoc)

Research: I am currently synthesizing novel mononuclear lanthanide complexes and investigating their derivatives and functionalized variations for applications including quantum information processing, surface deposition, bioimaging, and characterization of fundamental properties.

Interests: During my spare time I enjoy trying new things and a variety of activities such as playing music, gaming, dancing, traveling, cooking and baking, the arts, and taking in all that the world has to offer!  

Lukas Woodcock (PostDoc)

Lukas Woodcock (PostDoc)

Research: I am investigating the electronic and magnetic properties of lanthanide trensal derivatives primarily using Electron Paramagnetic Resonance. Currently I am investigating trensals with long aliphatic chains.

Interests: I enjoy homebrewing beer and mead, I am an avid gamer, and I love visiting new places with my wife and three sons.

Steen H. Hansen (PostDoc)Steen H. Hansen (PostDoc)

Research: I am developing novel lanthanide complexes with the goal of using them as physical supports for the implementation of Quantum Information Processing protocols.

Interests: I spend my sparetime  reading books, furthermore, I enjoy playing games and cooking. During the summer I enjoy kayaking.

Julie T. Lerche (PhD student)

Research: I am researching hetero-dinuclear lanthanide coordination comple-xes as bimodal Magnetic Resonance and Near Infra-Red imaging agents.

Interests: In my spare time I enjoy riding and prefer to ride in the woods. This I do once a week where I borrow an Icelandic horse. I also love to travel and see new places with beautiful nature, both in the summer where I go hiking and in the winter where I go skiing. In addition I spend my spare time with my friends and family.

Asger Strandfelt (PhD student)

Research: In my project i aim to investigate how deuteration of the ligands on the Yb(trensal) affect the coherence times of the complex' qubit properties.

In my previous project I synthesized mono and dinuclear lanthanide amine cryptates which can be used for MRI contrast agents or single-molecule magnets.

Interests: I like spending time with my friends and family. I am also quite fond of cooking, a skill which my friends and family get a taste of.