Piligkos Group

How can molecular magnets enable quantum technologies? The Piligkos Group studies the magnetic and electronic properties of lanthanide and transition metal complexes to unlock new quantum applications.

Research focus

Studies of the magnetic properties of molecular materials through the synthesis and characterization of coordination complexes based on lanthanide and transition metal ions. Particular emphasis is placed on coherent and incoherent magnetic phenomena and their potential applications in quantum information technologies.

  • Coordination chemistry
  • Study of magnetic properties by spectroscopic and thermodynamic techniques
  • Modelling software
  • Coherent magnetic properties
  • Lanthanide-based magnets
  • Electronic structure of transition metals and lanthanides
  • Polynuclear systems
  • Lanthanide-based quantum computing devices

Group leader

Instrumentation

Electron paramagnetic resonance

Continuous wave Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) measurements can be performed on a Bruker Elexsys E500 instrument with an Oxford Cryosystem temperature controller allowing for temperatures in the range 4 - 300 K. Measurements can be performed at L-, X- and Q-band frequencies. The electromagnet of the instrument can generate fields up to 1.7 T.

Magnetometry measurements can be performed on a Quantum-Design MPMS-XL SQUID magnetometer. Measurements can be performed at temperatures ranging from 1.8 - 300 K with fields ranging from 0 - 5 T. For AC susceptibility measurements the oscillating magnetic field can be set to 0.1 - 1500 Hz. 

Ideas for student projects

In my group we are always on the look for new students who are interested in joining us to perform a research project. Many different types of projects are available in my group, ranging from synthesis of new lanthanide complexes to writing your own computer programs to model the electronic properties of lanthanide complexes.

Project Opportunities

  • Synthesis of lanthanide and transition metal complexes
  • Magnetic characterization using spectroscopy and magnetometry
  • Electronic structure analysis and computational modelling
  • Advanced EPR, luminescence, and magneto-optical studies
  • Magnetic studies at cryogenic temperatures and large-scale facilities

Student projects

Quantum computers exploit quantum phenomena such as superposition and entanglement to achieve “quantum advantage” in tasks like factorisation, database handling, and simulating complex systems, with major implications for fields such as AI, energy, and biomedicine. The text highlights advances in molecular quantum systems, particularly Yb(trensal), which functions as a coherent electronic qubit and can be coupled with a nuclear qudit to enable built-in quantum error correction. These systems have also been engineered for practical use, including surface deposition, supporting their potential in future quantum technologies.

In your project you will be working on preparing new Ln(trensal) qubits and study their electronic structure, spin-lattice relaxation and coherent magnetic properties.

Quantum computers use qubits, which unlike classical bits can exist in superposition, enabling powerful “quantum parallelism” and more efficient information processing. Computations are carried out through quantum gates acting on single or entangled qubits. The text highlights research on lanthanide-based molecular systems, where stable heterodinuclear complexes are engineered to function as entangled two-qubit gates, supporting their potential use in future quantum computing technologies.

You will synthesise new heteronuclear lanthanide complexes based on our established synthetic procedure and study the magnetic properties of these, with emphasis on determining the interaction between the two lanthanide centers and on the coherent magnetic properties of these systems. Additionally, you will be working on extending the choice of lanthanides beyond the late lanthanides (Gd-Lu) to the early lanthanides (Ce-Eu).

A prerequisite for molecular materials to be used for the realisation of Quantum Information devices is that they need to be placed on a surface (gold, silicon, metal oxides, graphene etc.) in a controlled way. Additionally, they need to be addressable at the single molecule level by external stimuli such as photons or electric fields, which, for example, can be obtained through chiral molecules for the latter. However, it is not obvious that the molecular properties as determined in the solid state or in solution are maintained upon surface deposition. In general a radical modification of these properties is observed after surface deposition.

You will synthesise new Ln(trensal) derivatives that can be attached to surfaces. You will study the bulk properties of these complexes before and after depositing them on a surface e.g. graphene, and compare these properties to the ones in the bulk.