Surface-confined molecular coolers for cryogenics

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that gadolinium acetate tetrahydrate molecules maintain their magnetic cooling properties after being deposited on silicon, advancing the development of molecule-based microrefrigerators for cryogenic applications.

Contribution

It shows that magnetic properties of gadolinium acetate tetrahydrate are preserved after surface deposition, enabling potential microrefrigerating devices at very low temperatures.

Findings

Magnetic properties are retained after deposition.

Molecular cooling functionality remains intact.

Progress towards molecule-based microrefrigerators.

Abstract

An excellent molecule-based cryogenic magnetic refrigerant, gadolinium acetate tetrahydrate, is here used to decorate selected portions of silicon substrate. By quantitative magnetic force microscopy for variable applied magnetic field near liquid-helium temperature, we demonstrate that the molecules hold intact their magnetic properties, and therefore their cooling functionality, after their deposition. Our result represents a step forward towards the realization of a molecule-based microrefrigerating device for very low temperatures.