2D Van der Waals magnets are emerging materials which can to be easily exfoliated down to few layer and to the monolayer limit while retaining magnetic order. Therefore, they can be incorporated into heterostructures to make new multifunctional devices with combined electric, optical and magnetic properties for applications in spintronics, quantum computing, and magneto-optical devices. Furthermore, 2D magnets represent a model system for the observation of new quantum phase transitions and phenomena at nanoscale. 

We investigate functional magnetic properties and quantum phase transitions like the topological Berezinskii–Kosterlitz–Thouless (BKT) phase transition in 2D magnets by electron spin resonance methods. These studies provide a key step forward to the understanding of the functional magnetic properties of 2D magnets for future magneto- and topological-electronics.

The inclusion of functional molecules as substitutional dopants in single crystals of organic hosts with complementary optical properties provides a versatile strategy to tune optical and magnetic properties.  Optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) studies demonstrate efficient spin-dependent optical activities that are tuned by crystallographically oriented magnetic fields. These properties are particularly appealing for the exploitation of pentacene in room-temperature spindriven opto-electronics, quantum sensing and in microwave amplification by stimulated emission of radiation (MASER).

Recent advances in the synthesis of colloidal quantum dots (QDs) have enabled controlled doping with magnetic impurities (e.g., Mn, Fe etc..), flexibility in manipulating the QD surface and environment, and integration of the QDs in hybrid nanocomposite device structures, opening the way towards applications spanning LED, MRI and quantum computing. 

Of particular interest is the doping of QDs with a single metal ion which may manifest long quantum coherence as a result of the suppressed spin-spin interactions, thus enabling coherent manipulation of electron spins qubits in semiconductor QDs. This opportunity has sparked a research area called solotronics which is currently under an intense research activity.  

Thus, colloidal QDs represent an excellent benchmark not only to study the dephasing effects of electric (phonons) and magnetic (nuclei and unpaired electrons) field fluctuations on electron spin coherence but also to explore promising routes to quantum technologies.

Hyperfine interactions in a single Mn ion confined in a quantum dot create a qudit, i.e. a multi-level quantum-bit system with well defined, addressable and robust set of spin states. Electron double resonance detected nuclear magnetic resonance (EDNMR) enables the implementation of NOT and √SWAP quantum gates. This approach offers a means to realize universal quantum gates beyond traditional 2-level spin qubits with potential for low-cost, scalable and downsized quantum computer architectures. 

Realization of universal quantum gates with spin-qudits in colloidal quantum dots F. Moro, A. J. Fielding, L. Turyanska, and A. Patanè Adv. Quantum Technol. 1900017 C (2019) 

The controlled manipulation of the spin and charge of electrons in a semiconductor has the potential to create new routes to digital electronics beyond Moore's law, spintronics, and quantum detection and imaging for sensing applications. These technologies require a shift from traditional semiconducting and magnetic nanostructured materials. Here, a new material system is reported, which comprises the InSe semiconductor van der Waals crystal that embeds ferromagnetic Fe‐islands. In contrast to many traditional semiconductors, the electronic properties of InSe are largely preserved after the incorporation of Fe. Also, this system exhibits ferromagnetic resonances and a large uniaxial magnetic anisotropy at room temperature, offering opportunities for the development of functional devices that integrate magnetic and semiconducting properties within the same material system. 

Room temperature uniaxial magnetic anisotropy induced by Fe-islands in the InSe semiconductor van der Waals crystal. F. Moro, M. A. Bhuiyan, Z. R. Kudrynskyi, R. Puttock, O. Kazakova, O. Makarovsky, M. W. Fay, C. Parmenter, Z. D. Kovalyuk, A. J. Fielding, M. Kern, J. van Slageren, and A. Patanè Adv. Sci. 1800257, https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.201800257 (2018).

Structural, electronic and magnetic studies of hybrid electronic and magnetic structures via deposition of molecular magnets on conducting surfaces for applications in ultra-high density data storage (>1Tb/in^2) via surface sensitive techniques (STM, XPS, XAS and XMCD). 

X-ray adsorption and magnetic circular dichroism investigation of bis(phthalocyaninato) terbium single-molecule magnets deposited on graphite. R. Biagi, et al. Phys. Rev. B 82, 224406 (2010).

Addressing the magnetic properties of sub-monolayers of molecular nanomagnets by x-ray magnetic circular dichroism. F. Moro, et al. Nanoscale 2, 2698-2703 (2010).