The position is assigned to the workgroup of Prof. W. Kuch, which has experience investigating adsorbed magnetic molecules, surfaces, and nanostructures that may become relevant in a future spin-based electronics. A focus is on the reversible manipulation of the magnetism of adsorbed molecules. Experiments are carried out both by laboratory-based techniques as well as by using synchrotron radiation.
Job description :
The project consists of research in the field of di- and trinuclear spin-crossover molecules. The goal is to investigate the role of intramolecular coupling and cooperativity in thermal and light-induced spin-switching behaviour in order to optimize the latter. Due to the possibility of switching their magnetic moment on and off by external means, spin-crossover molecules are highly interesting candidates for programmable building blocks in molecule-based spin electronics. The use of multinuclear, cooperatively switching molecules can improve switchability on the one hand and achieve a greater switching response on the other. The position is embedded in a research project funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) as part of the priority programme ‘Interactive switching of spin states’, which also includes working groups from synthetic chemistry and theoretical physics. In addition to X-ray absorption spectroscopy, synchrotron radiation-based THz spectroscopy is also being used as a new method for characterisation. Both bulk materials and thin films on solid surfaces, down to sub-monolayers, are analysed. Experiments will be carried out in the university laboratory in Berlin-Dahlem and at the synchrotron-radiation source BESSY II in Berlin-Adlershof.
Requirements:
A master's degree in physics or physical chemistry is required.
Desirable:
A master's thesis in experimental physics, experience in surface science, with ultrahigh vacuum technology, x-ray spectroscopy using synchrotron radiation, electron-paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy or with adsorption of molecules on solid surfaces. Applications quoting the reference code PhyKu_01/25 *must* include a complete CV, an abstract (max. one page) of the master thesis, as well as names and addresses (postal and e-mail) of two or three persons willing to provide confidential letters of reference. Incomplete applications will not be considered.