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High‐Resolution ESR Imaging of N@C 60 Radicals on a Surface
Author(s) -
Suhovoy Ekaterina,
Blank Aharon
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
israel journal of chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.908
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1869-5868
pISSN - 0021-2148
DOI - 10.1560/ijc.48.1.45
Subject(s) - chemistry , resolution (logic) , image resolution , spins , electron paramagnetic resonance , sensitivity (control systems) , magnetic field , spin (aerodynamics) , spectral resolution , field (mathematics) , analytical chemistry (journal) , liquid nitrogen , nanotechnology , nuclear magnetic resonance , spectral line , optics , condensed matter physics , physics , materials science , computer science , mathematics , engineering , quantum mechanics , astronomy , artificial intelligence , electronic engineering , pure mathematics , thermodynamics , organic chemistry , chromatography
Abstract Electron Spin Resonance Microcopy (ESRM) is an imaging method capable of observing stable free radicals in small samples with a spatial resolution of ∼1 micron. Currently this technique is pursued mainly for biological applications at room temperature and at relatively low static magnetic fields. Future progress, which involves the use of higher magnetic fields at cryogenic temperatures, could significantly improve sensitivity and resolution and thus make this method attractive to many solid‐state and physical science applications. Here we consider a possible application of ESRM to the field of quantum computing employing Endohedral Nitrogen fullerene (N@C 60 ) molecules. In order to fully address the challenges of quantum computing, the resolution should be significantly improved to ∼10 nm and the sensitivity should approach the single spin level. In the present work we show some preliminary results conducted with diluted N@C 60 samples. A 2D image of N@C 60 dispersed on a surface was obtained at a field of ∼0.6 T and at room temperature. Under these conditions the current sensitivity of the ESRM system is around 10 7 −10 8 spins, and due to the low enrichment factor of the N@C 60 sample (∼10 −6 ), we were able to reach image resolution of only ∼50 m̈m. Future steps that are taken in order to significantly improve resolution and sensitivity of the system are discussed. These include the use of highly concentrated samples to be measured at ∼4 K and at a field of more than 1 T, which would lead to a resolution of ∼100 nm and a sensitivity of ∼100 spins.