Single NdPc2 molecules on surfaces: adsorption, interaction, and molecular magnetism

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Single molecule magnets (SMMs) are crucial in molecular spintronics, with potential applications in molecular-spin-transistors, molecular-spinvalves, and molecular quantum computing. SMMs feature high spin ground states with zero-field splitting, leading to significant relaxation barriers and extended relaxation times. A notable class of these molecules is the lanthanide double-decker phthalocyanines (LaPc2), consisting of a single metal atom between two organic phthalocyanine (Pc) ligands. Understanding the interaction between these molecules and substrates is vital for their spintronic applications, as it influences their electronic and magnetic properties. This thesis investigates the adsorbed neodymium double-decker phthalocyanine (NdPc2) using low temperature scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy (STM and STS). The molecules are deposited onto various substrates, revealing that a significant portion decomposes during deposition, with the decomposition probability varying by substrate. This suggests that the substrate alters the electronic structure of the molecule, impacting its stability, potentially through charge transfer from the surface. Detailed investigations of NdPc2 on Cu(100) reveal that the lower Pc ring strongly hybridizes with the substrate, leading to robust chemisorption, while the upper Pc ring retains its molecular electronic states, which can shift under an external electric field. Notably, dire