From radical to triradical thin film processes: the Blatter radical derivatives

Abstract

We demonstrate the possibility to evaporate Blatter radical derivatives in a controlled environment obtaining thin films that preserve the (poly)radical magnetic character. However, their thermal evaporation is challenging. We analyse the evaporation process and the thin film formation using thermodynamic concepts and describe the material properties also using first principles calculations. The presence of more than one radical site makes the radical more reactive, narrowing the windows left for evaporation, thus, favouring the assembly of molecules and island formation rather than two-dimensional growth.