Thin-Film Deposition of Room-Temperature Magnetic Prussian Blue Analogues

Prussian Blue Analogues (PBAs) are a versatile family of cyanide-coordinated materials whose composition and oxidation state can be engineered to produce a wide range of electronic, ionic and magnetic properties. In particular, vanadium–chromium (V–Cr) PBAs are attractive molecular magnets, with reported magnetic ordering temperatures extending well above room temperature.

This internship will focus on the development of thin-film deposition processes for magnetic V–Cr PBAs, with the objective of translating their promising bulk magnetic properties into continuous, device-compatible films. The student will investigate deposition approaches such as electrodeposition and solution-based growth, and study how processing parameters influence film thickness, morphology, composition, crystallinity and oxidation state.

The deposited films will be characterized using structural, chemical and magnetic techniques, with particular attention to preserving the V oxidation states required for high-temperature magnetic ordering and understanding the influence of air exposure and film processing. The work will contribute toward the development of magnetic PBA thin films for future applications in electronics and sensing.