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I worked on nano-materials in my undergraduate project at both the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and Hokkaido University, Japan. My research was focused on the fabrication of nanoholes on a silicon wafer for optical applications. This led to my interest in the field of 'Nano-science of advanced metal complexes'.

The advent of molecular magnetism, an interdisciplinary area where the techniques of molecular chemistry are exploited to design and synthesize new classes of magnetic materials based on molecular lattices, makes it possible to prepare materials that could exhibit an infinite number of superposition of states, unlike classical magnets. This class of materials owes its magnetic properties to their molecular origin.

My M.Sc. at Tohoku University, Japan and as a Japanese government scholar was based on this class of magnetic materials as an experimentalist with a focus on lanthanide-based single-molecule magnets (SMM). I am grateful to the Japanese government for her generous funding through the MEXT scholarship for my master's programme in Japan.

The potential applications of SMMs are vast and include information processing, data storage, quantum computing, spintronics, biomedical applications (like MRI contrast agents) or magnetic refrigeration. However, this research area remains laboratory curiosity due to the low blocking temperature. Lanthanide based SMM is more promising than the transition metal counterparts due to higher spin-orbit coupling, large magnetic anisotropy, and the high-spin ground state. Experimental data alone seem insufficient to prove the complete mechanism and factors responsible for SMM behaviour, hence theoretical tools will be necessary for its modelling and understanding.

The multi-parameter computational method which could be used to verify model Hamiltonians in understanding this magnetic behaviour to date remains vague and challenging with the existing computation resources. The complexity of multiple electronic states, unquenchable spin-orbit coupling, and hyperfine interaction made it difficult to investigate lanthanide-based SMMs with theoretical models like density functional theory (DFT). The extremely high matrix dimensions necessary to determine the eigenvalues and corresponding eigenvectors of spin Hamiltonian with respect to lanthanide base complexes remain subject to investigation.

As a PhD student, under the supervision of Dr Alexander Thom, I used computational techniques to investigate different molecular designs and the overall interactions that must exist around lanthanide ions to enhance SMM behaviour. With this, I hope molecular designs that will not only show SMM behaviour but extend such behaviour to a higher temperature for industrial application will be developed by experimental chemists.

I am also interested in using computational techniques to develop multifunctional materials with supra-molecular assembly and lend hands to synthetic chemists to fabricate such materials with a vast application from gas absorption, and separation in petrochemical and allied industries, increasing data storage capacity in electronic materials and much more.

I thank the IsDB, Cambridge-Africa and Cambridge Trust for my PhD funding without which, I wouldn't be where I am today. The world of previously neglected dimensions (Nano-science) has become cutting edge, why do you think your neglected contributions to the world of science and beyond won't be celebrated someday?

If you wish to collaborate with me in any of the research fields above, please send me a mail. Also, if you wish to link up with African researchers in STEM research collaborations, please, feel free to contact me for further discussions.

Publications

Correction: Ionic-caged heterometallic bismuth–platinum complex exhibiting electrocatalytic CO2 reduction
T Yoshida, H Md Ahsan, H-T Zhang, DC Izuogu, H Abe, H Ohtsu, T Yamaguchi, BK Breedlove, AJW Thom, M Yamashita
– Dalton Trans
(2020)
49,
4578
Crystal structure, non-covalent interaction and molecular docking studies of 2-{[2-phenylsulfonyl)hydrazinylidene]methyl}benzoic acid and its dysprosium catalysed cyclized product: 2-(phenyl-sulfonyl)phthalazin-1(2H)-one
JN Asegbeloyin, DC Izuogu, EE Oyeka, OC Okpareke, A Ibezim
– Journal of Molecular Structure
(2019)
1175,
219
Ln-Pt electron polarization effects on the magnetic relaxation of heterometallic Ho- and Er-Pt complexes.
T Yoshida, DC Izuogu, H-T Zhang, G Cosquer, H Abe, W Wernsdorfer, BK Breedlove, M Yamashita
– Dalton transactions (Cambridge, England : 2003)
(2018)
48,
7144
Synthesis, crystal structure, computational analysis and biological properties of 1-(4-chlorobenzoyl)-3-[2-(2-{2-[3-(4-chlorobenzoyl)-thioureido]-ethoxy}ethoxy)ethyl]-thiourea and its Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes
EE Oyeka, JN Asegbeloyin, I Babahan, B Eboma, O Okpareke, J Lane, A Ibezim, HH Bıyık, B Törün, DC Izuogu
– Journal of Molecular Structure
(2018)
1168,
153
Slow Magnetic Relaxation in a Palladium-Gadolinium Complex Induced by Electron Density Donation from the Palladium Ion
DC Izuogu, T Yoshida, H Zhang, G Cosquer, K Katoh, S Ogata, M Hasegawa, H Nojiri, M Damjanović, W Wernsdorfer, T Uruga, T Ina, BK Breedlove, M Yamashita
– Chemistry - A European Journal
(2018)
24,
9285
Slow Magnetic Relaxation in a Palladium–Gadolinium Complex Induced by Electron Density Donation from the Palladium Ion
DC Izuogu, T Yoshida, H Zhang, G Cosquer, K Katoh, S Ogata, M Hasegawa, H Nojiri, M Damjanović, W Wernsdorfer, T Uruga, T Ina, BK Breedlove, M Yamashita
– Chemistry – A European Journal
(2018)
24,
9169
Front Cover: Slow Magnetic Relaxation in a Palladium–Gadolinium Complex Induced by Electron Density Donation from the Palladium Ion (Chem. Eur. J. 37/2018)
DC Izuogu, T Yoshida, H Zhang, G Cosquer, K Katoh, S Ogata, M Hasegawa, H Nojiri, M Damjanović, W Wernsdorfer, T Uruga, T Ina, BK Breedlove, M Yamashita
– Chemistry – A European Journal
(2018)
24,
9165
Multiple Magnetic Relaxation Pathways and Dual-Emission Modulated by a Heterometallic Tb-Pt Bonding Environment.
T Yoshida, DC Izougu, D Iwasawa, S Ogata, M Hasegawa, BK Breedlove, G Cosquer, W Wernsdorfer, M Yamashita
– Chemistry (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)
(2017)
23,
10527
Field-Induced Slow Magnetic Relaxation of GdIII Complex with a Pt-Gd Heterometallic Bond.
T Yoshida, G Cosquer, DC Izuogu, H Ohtsu, M Kawano, Y Lan, W Wernsdorfer, H Nojiri, BK Breedlove, M Yamashita
– Chemistry
(2017)
23,
4551
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