Danna E. Freedman, Ph.D. - US grants

With this CAREER award, the Chemical Structure, Dynamic & Mechanism B Program of the Chemistry Division is supporting the research of Professor Danna Freedman at Northwestern University to develop and understand the smallest unit of a quantum computer, the qubit. Quantum computers can be vastly more efficient than current computers. Research on quantum computer is at the very early stages and focuses on creating the qubit. Toward this goal, Professor Freedman is using synthetic chemistry with the aim of addressing the fundamental questions surrounding the creation of a qubit at the molecular level. Professor Freedman will integrate research and education through three new initiatives. In the first initiative, the primary literature will be incorporated into the introductory chemistry curriculum through a combination of demonstrations, lecture examples and student created Wikipedia pages. In a separate initiative, Professor Freedman will continue her work with the Museum of Science and Industry to design and implement a new exhibit, which features her research on magnetic anisotropy. Finally, Professor Freedman will be creating opportunities for students to present their research, including organizing a colloquium for inorganic students in the Chicago area, a symposium at an American Chemical Society conference, and a symposium at an European Materials Research Society conference symposium.

Any object that can be placed into a superposition of two states can be used as a qubit. Electronic spin is an appealing qubit candidate because the qubits can be manipulated by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, and their parameters can be tuned using chemical synthesis. Yet, the synthesis of viable candidate qubits has been stymied by rapid decoherence of electronic spin in molecules. As such, the synthesis and fundamental study of molecules with long-lived quantum coherences necessitates rational synthetic design principles to inform and enable the design of future long-lived qubits. Professor Freedman will continue to develop empirically derived design principles, employ these principles to synthesize candidate qubits, and scale new systems to develop multiple qubits in a single molecule. Her research program could provide important insights into decoherence.

This award is supported by the Major Research Instrumentation and the Chemistry Instrumentation Programs. Professor Mercouri Kanatzidis from Northwestern University and colleagues Kenneth Poeppelmeier, Sossina Haile, Steven Jacobsen and Danna Freedman are acquiring a single crystal X-ray diffractometer equipped with a silver micro-source, goniometer, and an efficient detector optimized for silver-radiation. In general, an X-ray diffractometer allows accurate and precise measurements of the full three-dimensional structure of a molecule, including bond distances and angles, and provides accurate information about the spatial arrangement of a molecule relative to neighboring molecules. The studies described here impact many areas, including organic and inorganic chemistry, materials chemistry and biochemistry. This instrument is an integral part of teaching as well as research and research training of undergraduate and graduate students in chemistry and biochemistry at this institution where students receive hands-on access to the diffractometers and collect data on their own experimental samples. The new diffractometer is also used for the biannual international Summer School co-organized with the American Crystallographic Association and Northwestern University. Collaborations are in place with other research institutions such as the University of Chicago, the Ohio State University, Illinois Institute of Technology, Loyola University Chicago, Lake Forest College and Roosevelt University.

The award is aimed at enhancing research and education at all levels. It is especially used for exploring solid state chemistry of chalcogenides and analyzing solid-state-related electrochemical processes. The diffractometer is also utilized for the analyses of synthesized compounds and minerals as well as synthesized oxides and oxide-fluorides. The instrument is employed in projects with applications in sustainable energy, geology, planetary sciences, ceramics and nanomaterials.

This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.