Chiral Metal-Based Luminophores for Multi-Field Responsive Bistable Switches

The LUMIFIELD project concerns the development of smart materials for miniaturized and efficient electronic, magnetic, and optical devices, such as data storage systems. This issue will be addressed by the design of multifunctional systems presenting a broad range of properties generated in a single phase that will enable switching of optical effects by a magnetic field (H), an electric field (E), and electromagnetic radiation (light). I propose an intensive research program aimed at crossing the current limits of single-phase multifunctionality. I plan to use chiral metal-based luminophores (CLs) interacting with unpolarized light to produce photoluminescence (PL) and circularly polarized luminescence (CPL). Molecular-level functionalization of CLs will lead to a combination of PL/CPL phenomena with single-molecule magnetism (SMM), ferroelectricity, and a photoswitching property. The resulting systems, (i) magnetic CLs, (ii) ferroelectric CLs, and (iii) photoswitchable CLs will show the related bistabilities detected by the PL/CPL-based optical response also ensuring overall responsivity to the H and E fields, and light. The ultimate aim is to construct a multifunctional CL-switch bearing at least two properties from the set of SMM, ferroelectricity, and photoswitchability. It will open a gateway to a multi-state memory effect induced by dual or triple physical stimuli with the PL/CPL output. The project will focus on searching and optimization of the chemical route to multifunctional switches, as well as on physical experiments elucidating the H-field-, E-field-, and light-matter interactions in CLs. Therefore, the final results of the project might include a multi-field responsive system suitable for high-density data storage operated by various physical stimuli, the formulation of general rules for the external control of PL and CPL effects in metal complex systems, and the formation of a highly qualified research team to face the future challenges for the EU.