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University of Glasgow researchers led an international team to use light for the first time to read the magnetic spin of electrons trapped inside porous crystals called metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). These materials are rigid, sponge-like structures made of metal ions connected by organic molecules. The study, published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society in 2026, builds on a technique known as optically detected magnetic resonance, or ODMR. This method allows scientists to detect electron spins using light rather than microwaves, offering higher sensitivity and spatial resolution than previous methods like electron spin resonance.

Dr. Sam Bayliss and Dr. Alistair Inglis from the University of Glasgow explained that MOFs act as molecular scaffolds capable of holding target molecules within their pores. Because these frameworks are porous, they can be loaded with specific chemicals, allowing the researchers to detect them by observing how the absorbed substances interact with the electron spins. This capability could enable sensors to operate at a molecular scale, identifying substances based on their unique response patterns rather than just detecting their presence.

The team noted that while diamond nitrogen-vacancy centers are well-studied for optical spin detection, they have limitations regarding controllability and interaction with external substances. In contrast, spins derived from MOFs can be chemically designed to control position and orientation. The researchers suggest that this technology could lead to a "quantum nose" capable of identifying various chemicals. Future work aims to make the system functional at more practical temperatures and improve signal strength through chemical tuning.