Sensing Single-Molecule Magnets with Nitrogen-Vacancy Centers

Single-molecule magnets (SMMs) are molecules that can function as nanoscale magnets with potential use as magnetic memory bits. While SMMs can retain magnetization at low temperatures, characterizing them on surfaces and at room temperature remains challenging and requires specialized nanoscale techniques. Here, we use single nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond as a highly sensitive, broadband magnetic field sensor to detect the magnetic noise of cobalt-based SMMs deposited on a diamond surface. We measured the NV relaxation and decoherence times at 296 K and at 5–8 K, observing a significant influence of the SMMs on them. From this, we infer the SMMs’ magnetic noise spectral density (NSD) and underlying magnetic properties. Moreover, we observe the effect of an applied magnetic field on the SMMs’ NSD at low temperatures. The method provides nanoscale sensitivity for characterizing SMMs under realistic conditions relevant to their use as surface-bound memory units.