An Ultrasensitive Molecular Detector for Direct Sensing of Spin Currents at Room Temperature

The experimental analysis of pure spin currents at interfaces is one major goal in the field of magnonics and spintronics. Complementary to the established Spin-Hall effect using the spin-to-charge conversion in heavy metals for information processing, we present a novel approach based on spin pumping detection by an interfacial, resonantly excited molecular paramagnet adsorbed to the surface of the spin current generating magnet. Here, we show that the sensitivity of this electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) detector can be enhanced by orders of magnitude through intramolecular transfer of spin polarization at room temperature. Our proof-of-principle sample consists of octahedral-shaped ferrimagnetic Fe