Molecular Engineering of Emissive Molecular Qubits Based on Spin-Correlated Radical Pairs
Neo Lin, M. Tsuji, Isabella Bruzzese, Angela Chen, Michael Vrionides, Noen Jian, Farhan Kittur, Thomas P. Fay, Tomoyasu Mani
Abstract
Spin chemistry of photogenerated spin-correlated radical pairs (SCRPs) offers a practical approach to control chemical reactions and molecular emissions by using weak magnetic fields. This capability to harness magnetic field effects (MFEs) paves the way for developing SCRPs-based molecular qubits. Here, we introduce a new series of donor-chiral bridge-acceptor (D-χ-A) molecules that demonstrate significant MFEs on fluorescence intensity and lifetime in solution at room temperature─critical for quantum sensing. By precisely tuning the donor site through torsional locking, distance extension, and planarization, we achieved remarkable control over key quantum properties, including field-response range and line width. In the most responsive systems, emission lifetimes increased by over 200%, and the total emission intensity was modulated by up to 30%. This level of tunability shows the power of synthetic spin chemistry. The rational design principle of optically addressable SCRP-based molecular systems, presented in this work, represents a major leap toward functional synthetic molecular qubits, advancing the field of molecular quantum technologies.