PhD ceremony Mr. A. Caretta: Spin and phonon dynamics in layered cu-based organic-inorganic hybrids

PhD ceremony: Mr. A. Caretta

Dissertation: Spin and phonon dynamics in layered cu-based organic-inorganic hybrids

Promotor(s): prof. P.H.M. van Loosdrecht

Faculty: Mathematics and Natural Sciences

Rapid advances in technology motivate further research to design materials with multifunctional properties. The organic-inorganic hybrids are promising compounds, versatile and cheap. In this thesis I study a family of hybrids which combine ferromagnetic and ferroelectric properties. The main characteristic of these materials is the layered character of the structure: the Cu-based inorganic constituents form layers, separated by organic molecules.

My studies focus on two very important properties for applications: the energy transport, fundamental for heat dissipation, and the magnetization control, with applications to magnetic memories.

Both energy transport and magnetization manipulation experiments have been performed by optical methods. These non-destructive methods allow the investigation of processes down to the femtosecond timescales (a quadrillionth of a second).

It is found that vibrational modes, in proximity to phase transitions, can strongly influence the energy transport properties of the material. In particular our analysis allows the study of fundamental coupling between vibrations.

Concerning light-manipulation of the magnetization we describe a novel method to enhance the magnetization. The method is applicable to layered structures and potentially functional up to the room temperature regime.