TY - JOUR
T1 - Molecular spin sensor for in-situ monitoring of crystallization behavior and phase transition in aromatic materials
AU - Liu, Linshan
AU - Zhao, Chong
AU - Zhang, Yingjian
AU - Zhang, Zhuxia
AU - Wang, Chunru
AU - Wang, Taishan
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2025.
PY - 2025/12
Y1 - 2025/12
N2 - Spin-active materials with sensitive electron spin centers have drawn significant attention in quantum sensing due to their unique quantum characteristics. Herein, we report a molecular spin sensor based on metallofullerene Y2@C79N for in-situ monitoring of crystallization behavior and phase transitions in aromatic materials with high precision. Temperature-dependent spin resonance signals of Y2@C79N dissolved in aromatic materials are analyzed using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. Two functional aromatic materials, 1-chloronaphthalene and a liquid crystal material of 5CB, are selected based on their significant crystallization-related technological applications. For Y2@C79N in 1-chloronaphthalene, a distinct EPR signal transition attributed to the crystallization of 1-chloronaphthalene. For Y2@C79N in 5CB, three EPR signal transitions correspond to the phase transitions of crystalline 5CB. Theoretical calculations reveal that the sensing mechanism originates from crystallization-induced alignment of fullerene molecular orientation. This work establishes metallofullerene-based spin probes as a powerful analytical tool for detecting the crystallization processes in materials.
AB - Spin-active materials with sensitive electron spin centers have drawn significant attention in quantum sensing due to their unique quantum characteristics. Herein, we report a molecular spin sensor based on metallofullerene Y2@C79N for in-situ monitoring of crystallization behavior and phase transitions in aromatic materials with high precision. Temperature-dependent spin resonance signals of Y2@C79N dissolved in aromatic materials are analyzed using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. Two functional aromatic materials, 1-chloronaphthalene and a liquid crystal material of 5CB, are selected based on their significant crystallization-related technological applications. For Y2@C79N in 1-chloronaphthalene, a distinct EPR signal transition attributed to the crystallization of 1-chloronaphthalene. For Y2@C79N in 5CB, three EPR signal transitions correspond to the phase transitions of crystalline 5CB. Theoretical calculations reveal that the sensing mechanism originates from crystallization-induced alignment of fullerene molecular orientation. This work establishes metallofullerene-based spin probes as a powerful analytical tool for detecting the crystallization processes in materials.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105012440529
U2 - 10.1038/s41467-025-62649-2
DO - 10.1038/s41467-025-62649-2
M3 - Article
C2 - 40759636
AN - SCOPUS:105012440529
SN - 2041-1723
VL - 16
JO - Nature Communications
JF - Nature Communications
IS - 1
M1 - 7170
ER -