MSE Grads Talk: Zelin Miao

Speaker: Zelin Miao, Boston University

Title: Integrating Transition Metals into Coordination Chain Single-Molecule Circuits via Self-Assembly

Abstract: Incorporating paramagnetic molecular wires, such as inorganic complexes with tunable charge states, into nanoscale electronic junctions enables access to a broader spectrum of observable transport phenomena by introducing additional spin degrees of freedom. These emergent properties are central to the development of advanced spin-based technologies, including single-molecule qubits, spin valves, and molecular memory devices. However, reliably wiring paramagnetic molecules into electronic circuits remains a major challenge, as conventionally synthesized coordination compounds often disassemble upon contact with electrode surfaces, hindering their direct electrical characterization. To overcome this limitation, I have developed in situ assembly methods to construct extended coordination wires using azole ligands within junctions, where metal atoms are incorporated from the external environment during junction elongation. Here, I will discuss how I established the chemical principles for in situ-assembled molecular wires with different coinage metals, such as gold and silver, by combining scanning tunneling microscope break-junction (STM-BJ) conductance measurements with density functional theory (DFT)-based theoretical calculations. Our findings lay critical groundwork for future applications of self-assembled coordination complexes in molecular spintronics and next-generation quantum information technologies.

Bio: Zelin Miao is a fifth-year Ph.D. candidate in Materials Science and Engineering, working under the supervision of Prof. Masha Kamenetska at BU. He received the Distinguished Fellowship in Materials by Design in 2021 from the BU College of Engineering, and the BUnano Cross-Disciplinary Fellowship for the 2023-2024 academic year. His research focuses on developing chemical principles and new families of compounds for use in the next generation molecular electronic devices.