Synthesis, Characterization and Surface Preparation of Mn12 Single Molecule Magnets

In this work pathways for the immobilization of intact Mn12 Single molecule magnets on functionalized Au(111) surfaces were investigated. A small library of Mn12 Single molecule magnets was synthesized and characterized. Highly reproducible crystallization protocols were developed for the x-ray structure analysis, which is useful to get high quality starting material for surface preparation also. The magnetic integrity of the Mn12 single molecule magnets was affirmed by the measurement of magnetic hysteresis loops. Different routines for the surface preparation of Mn12 Single Molecule Magnets were evaluated. From these results a two-step-procedure was developed. The Au(111) surface was functionalized with mercaptobenzoic acids and the Mn12 complexes bonded chemically by a substitution reaction. The method was tuned by the usage of highly acidic perfluorinated benzoic acids which allows the investigation by scanning tunnelling techniques. At the successful deposited Mn12 complexes we demonstrated the exclusive applicability of scanning tunnelling techniques. Other common techniques for the surface characterization failed. The works is closed with a discussion of the oriented preparation of Mn12 Single Molecule Magnets on the functionalized Au(111) surface