Joshua Schuster

The aim of this project is to investigate the physical properties of asymmetric vanadium complexes and, in particular, to determine how their molecular electric dipole moments influence these properties. To systematically study this relationship, a series of asymmetric S = 1/2 complexes will be synthesised in which selected molecular moieties are varied. In particular, electron-withdrawing and electron-donating substituents will be introduced at different positions within the molecular framework.

The synthesised compounds will be characterised using a range of complementary techniques, including UV–Vis spectroscopy, EPR spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry. These methods will be used to investigate the electronic and magnetic properties of the complexes and to establish how structural modifications affect their behaviour.

Ultimately, the project aims to determine whether these vanadium complexes are suitable for investigating spin–electric coupling and, if so, whether the magnitude and orientation of the molecular electric dipole moment have a measurable influence on the observed spin–electric coupling.