Gaining Insights into the Interplay between Optical and Magnetic Properties in Photoexcited Coordination Compounds.

We describe early and recent advances in the fascinating field of combined magnetic and optical properties of inorganic coordination compounds and in particular of 3d-4f single molecule magnets. We cover various applied techniques which allow for the correlation of results obtained in the frequency and time domain in order to highlight the specific properties of these compounds and the future challenges towards multidimensional spectroscopic tools. An important point is to understand the details of the interplay of magnetic and optical properties through performing time-resolved studies in the presence of external fields especially magnetic ones. This will enable further exploration of this fundamental interactions i. e. the two components of electromagnetic radiation influencing optical properties.

Quantum Magnetism of the Iron Core in Ferritin Proteins-A Re-Evaluation of the Giant-Spin Model.

The electron-electron, or zero-field interaction (ZFI) in the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) of high-spin transition ions in metalloproteins and coordination complexes, is commonly described by a simple spin Hamiltonian that is second-order in the spin S: H=D[Sz2-SS+1/3+E(Sx2-Sy2). Symmetry considerations, however, allow for fourth-order terms when S ≥ 2. In metalloprotein EPR studies, these terms have rarely been explored. Metal ions can cluster via non-metal bridges, as, for example, in iron-sulfur clusters, in which exchange interaction can result in higher system spin, and this would allow for sixth- and higher-order ZFI terms. For metalloproteins, these have thus far been completely ignored. Single-molecule magnets (SMMs) are multi-metal ion high spin complexes, in which the ZFI usually has a negative sign, thus affording a ground state level pair with maximal spin quantum number mS = ±S, giving rise to unusual magnetic properties at low temperatures. The description of EPR from SMMs is commonly cast in terms of the 'giant-spin model', which assumes a magnetically isolated system spin, and in which fourth-order, and recently, even sixth-order ZFI terms have been found to be required. A special version of the giant-spin model, adopted for scaling-up to system spins of order S ≈ 103-104, has been applied to the ubiquitous iron-storage protein ferritin, which has an internal core containing Fe3+ ions whose individual high spins couple in a way to create a superparamagnet at ambient temperature with very high system spin reminiscent to that of ferromagnetic nanoparticles. This scaled giant-spin model is critically evaluated; limitations and future possibilities are explicitly formulated.

Organolanthanide Single-Molecule Magnets with Heterocyclic Ligands.

Lanthanide (Ln) based mononuclear single-molecule magnets (SMMs) provide probably the finest ligand regulation model for magnetic property. Recently, the development of such SMMs has witnessed a fast transition from coordination to organometallic complexes because the latter provides a fertile, yet not fully excavated soil for the development of SMMs. Especially those SMMs with heterocyclic ligands have shown the potential to reach higher blocking temperature. In this minireview, we give an overview of the design principle of SMMs and highlight those "shining stars" of heterocyclic organolanthanide SMMs based on the ring sizes of ligands, analysing how the electronic structures of those ligands and the stiffness of subsequently formed molecules affect the dynamic magnetism of SMMs. Finally, we envisaged the future development of heterocyclic Ln-SMMs.

Increasing the Magnetic Blocking Temperature of Single-Molecule Magnets.

The synthesis of single-molecule magnets (SMMs), magnetic complexes capable of retaining magnetization blocking for a long time at elevated temperatures, has been a major concern for magnetochemists over the last three decades. In this review, we describe basic SMMs and the different approaches that allow high magnetization-blocking temperatures to be reached. We focus on the basic factors affecting magnetization blocking, magnetic axiality and the height of the blocking barrier, which can be used to group different families of complexes in terms of their SMM efficiency. Finally, we discuss several practical routes for the design of mono- and polynuclear complexes that could be applied in memory devices.

Magnetic exchange interactions in binuclear and tetranuclear iron(III) complexes described by spin-flip DFT and Heisenberg effective Hamiltonians.

Low-energy spectra of single-molecule magnets (SMMs) are often described by Heisenberg Hamiltonians. Within this formalism, exchange interactions between magnetic centers determine the ground-state multiplicity and energy separation between the ground and excited states. In this contribution, we extract exchange coupling constants (J) for a set of iron (III) binuclear and tetranuclear complexes from all-electron calculations using non-collinear spin-flip time-dependent density functional theory (NC-SF-TDDFT). For 12 binuclear complexes with J-values ranging from -6 to -132 cm-1 , our benchmark calculations using the short-range hybrid ωPBEh functional and 6-31G(d,p) basis set agree well with the experimentally derived values (mean absolute error of 4.7 cm-1 ). For the tetranuclear SMMs, the computed J constants are within 6 cm-1 from the experimentally derived values. We explore the range of applicability of the Heisenberg model by analyzing bonding patterns in these Fe(III) complexes using natural orbitals (NO), their occupations, and the number of effectively unpaired electrons. The results illustrate the efficiency of the spin-flip protocol for computing the exchange couplings and the utility of the NO analysis in assessing the validity of effective spin Hamiltonians.

Dynamic Magnetic Properties of Germole-ligated Lanthanide Sandwich Complexes.

The first germole-ligated single-molecule magnets are reported, with contrasting properties found for the near-linear sandwich complexes [(η8 -COT)Ln(η5 -CpGe ]- , where Ln=Dy (1Dy ) or Er (1Er ), COT is cyclo-octatetraenyl and CpGe is [GeC4 -2,5-(SiMe3 )2 -3,4-Me2 ]2- . Whereas 1Er has an energy barrier of 120(1) cm-1 in zero applied field and open hysteresis loops up to 10 K, the relaxation in 1Dy is characterized by quantum tunneling within the ground state.

Alkyl Chains Modulated Magnetization Dynamics of Mononuclear Trigonal Prismatic CoII Complexes.

Four benzeneboron-capped mononuclear CoII complexes with different alkyl substitutions on the fourth position of phenylboronic acid were obtained. The CoII ions are all wrapped by the pocket-like ligands and located in trigonal prismatic coordination geometries. Alternating-current magnetic susceptibility measurements reveal that they show different magnetization dynamics, such as distinct relaxation rates at the same temperature, the faster QTM rates for the ethyl and propyl substituted complexes, as well as different relaxation processes. Magneto-structural correlation study reveals that the various deviations of coordination geometry of CoII ion, diverse crystal packings and possible different vibration modes of substituents caused by modifying alkyl chains are the key factors affecting the magnetization dynamics. This work demonstrates that the alkyl chains even locating far away from the metal center can have a large impact on the magnetic behavior of the CoII complex with a very rigid coordination geometry, offering a new perspective towards transition metal based single-molecule magnets.

Ligand Modulation of the Structures and Magnetic Relaxation in Triangular Dy3 Complexes Based on a Tricompartmental Scaffold.

Using a novel tricompartmental hydrazone ligand, a set of trinuclear Dy3 complexes has been isolated and structurally characterized. Complexes Dy3 ⋅ Cl, Dy3 ⋅ Br, and Dy3 ⋅ ClO4 feature a similar overall topology but different anions (Cl- , Br- , or ClO4 - ) in combination with exogenous OH- and solvent co-ligands, which is found to translate into very different magnetic properties. Complex Dy3 ⋅ Cl shows a double relaxation process with fast quantum tunneling of the magnetization, probably related to the structural disorder of µ2 -OH- and µ2 -Cl- co-ligands. Relaxation of the magnetization is slowed down for Dy3 ⋅ Br and Dy3 ⋅ ClO4 , which do not show any structural disorder. In particular, fast quantum tunneling is suppressed in case of Dy3 ⋅ ClO4 , resulting in an energy barrier of 341 K and magnetic hysteresis up to 3.5 K; this makes Dy3 ⋅ ClO4 one of the most robust air-stable trinuclear SMMs. Magneto-structural relationships of the three complexes are analyzed and rationalized with the help of CASSCF/RASSI-SO calculations.

X-Ray Triggered Coordination-Bond Breakage in Dysprosium-Organic Framework and its Impact on Magnetic Properties.

Photosensitive lanthanide-based single-molecule magnets (Ln-SMM) are very attractive for their potential applications in information storage, switching, and sensors. However, the light-driven structural transformation in Ln-SMMs hardly changes the coordination number of the lanthanide ion. Herein, for the first time it is reported that X-ray (λ=0.71073 Å) irradiation can break the coordination bond of Dy-OH2 in the three-dimensional (3D) metal-organic framework Dy2 (amp2 H2 )3 (H2 O)6 ⋅ 4H2 O (MDAF-5), in which the {Dy2 (OPO)2 } dimers are cross-linked by dianthracene-phosphonate ligands. The structural transformation proceeds in a single-crystal-to-single-crystal (SC-SC) fashion, forming the new phase Dy2 (amp2 H2 )3 (H2 O)4 ⋅ 4H2 O (MDAF-5-X). The phase transition is accompanied by a significant change in magnetic properties due to the alteration in coordination geometry of the DyIII ion from a distorted pentagonal bipyramid in MDAF-5 to a distorted octahedron in MDAF-5-X.

Slow Magnetization Relaxation in a Family of Triangular {CoIII 2 LnIII } Clusters: The Effect of Diamagnetic CoIII Ions on the LnIII Magnetic Dynamics.

The first use of the Schiff base chelate N-naphthalidene-o-aminophenol (naphH2 ) in Co/Ln chemistry has afforded a family of isostructural [CoIII 2 LnIII (OMe)2 (naph)2 (O2 CMe)3 (MeOH)2 ] (Ln=Tb, Dy and Er) complexes, revealing a rare {CoIII 2 Ln(µ3 -OMe)}8+ triangular core composed of two diamagnetic CoIII ions and a 4f-ion with slightly distorted square antiprismatic geometry. Alternating current (ac) magnetic susceptibility studies revealed that {Co2 Dy}, and its magnetic diluted analogue {Co2 Dy0.05 Y0.95 }, behave as mononuclear single-molecule magnets (SMMs) with similar energy barriers for the magnetization reversal, Ueff , of ~85-90 K. SMM properties were also detected for {Co2 Er}, with the compound exhibiting a Ueff of 18.7 K under an applied magnetic field of 800 Oe. To interpret the experimental magnetic results, ab initio CASSCF/RASSI-SO and DFT calculations were performed as a means of exploring the single-ion characteristics of LnIII ions and comprehend the role of the diamagnetic CoIII ions in the magnetization relaxation of the three heterometallic compounds.

Nanostructures as the Substrate for Single-Molecule Magnet Deposition.

Anchoringsingle-molecule magnets (SMMs) on the surface of nanostructures is gaining particular interest in the field of molecular magnetism. The accurate organization of SMMs on low-dimensional substrates enables controlled interactions and the possibility of individual molecules' manipulation, paving the route for a broad range of nanotechnological applications. In this comprehensive review article, the most studied types of SMMs are presented, and the quantum-mechanical origin of their magnetic behavior is described. The nanostructured matrices were grouped and characterized to outline to the reader their relevance for subsequent compounding with SMMs. Particular attention was paid to the fact that this process must be carried out in such a way as to preserve the initial functionality and properties of the molecules. Therefore, the work also includes a discussion of issues concerning both the methods of synthesis of the systems in question as well as advanced measurement techniques of the resulting complexes. A great deal of attention was also focused on the issue of surface-molecule interaction, which can affect the magnetic properties of SMMs, causing molecular crystal field distortion or magnetic anisotropy modification, which affects quantum tunneling or magnetic hysteresis, respectively. In our opinion, the analysis of the literature carried out in this way will greatly help the reader to design SMM-nanostructure systems.

Luminescent Single-Molecule Magnets as Dual Magneto-Optical Molecular Thermometers.

Luminescent thermometry allows the remote detection of the temperature and holds great potential in future technological applications in which conventional systems could not operate. Complementary approaches to measuring the temperature aiming to enhance the thermal sensitivity would however represent a decisive step forward. For the first time, we demonstrate the proof-of-concept that luminescence thermometry could be associated with a complementary temperature readout related to a different property. Namely, we propose to take advantage of the temperature dependence of both magnetic (canonical susceptibility and relaxation time) and luminescence features (emission intensity) found in Single-Molecule Magnets (SMM) to develop original dual magneto-optical molecular thermometers to conciliate high-performance SMM and Boltzmann-type luminescence thermometry. We highlight this integrative approach to concurrent luminescent and magnetic thermometry using an air-stable benchmark SMM [Dy(bbpen)Cl] (H2 bbpen=N,N'-bis(2-hydroxybenzyl)-N,N'-bis(2-methylpyridyl)ethyl-enediamine)) exhibiting Dy3+ luminescence. The synergy between multiparametric magneto-optical readouts and multiple linear regression makes possible a 10-fold improvement in the relative thermal sensitivity of the thermometer over the whole temperature range, compared with the values obtained with the single optical or magnetic devices.

Desolvation-Induced Highly Symmetrical Terbium(III) Single-Molecule Magnet Exhibiting Luminescent Self-Monitoring of Temperature.

A conjunction of Single-Molecule Magnet (SMM) behavior and luminescence thermometry is an emerging research line aiming at contactless read-out of temperature in future SMM-based devices. The shared working range between slow magnetic relaxation and the thermometric response is typically narrow or absent. We report TbIII -based emissive SMMs formed in a cyanido-bridged framework whose properties are governed by the reversible structural transformation from [TbIII (H2 O)2 ][CoIII (CN)6 ] ⋅ 2.7H2 O (1) to its dehydrated phase, TbIII [CoIII (CN)6 ] (2). The 8-coordinated complexes in 1 show the moderate SMM effect but it is enhanced for trigonal-prismatic TbIII complexes in 2, showing the SMM features up to 42 K. They are governed by the combination of QTM, Raman, and Orbach relaxation with the energy barrier of 594(18) cm-1 (854(26) K), one of the highest among the TbIII -based molecular nanomagnets. Both systems exhibit emission related to the f-f electronic transitions, with the temperature variations resulting in the optical thermometry below 100 K. The dehydration leads to a wide temperature overlap between the SMM behavior and thermometry, from 6 K to 42 K. These functionalities are further enriched after the magnetic dilution. The role of post-synthetic formation of high-symmetry TbIII complexes in achieving the SMM effect and hot-bands-based optical thermometry is discussed.

Radical-Bridged Heterometallic Single-Molecule Magnets Incorporating Four Lanthanoceniums.

The syntheses and magnetic properties of organometallic heterometallic compounds [K(THF)6 ]{CoI [(µ3 -HAN)RE2 Cp*4 ]2 } (1-RE) and [K(Crypt)]2 {CoI [(µ3 -HAN)RE2 Cp*4 ]2 } (2-RE) containing hexaazatrinaphthylene radicals (HAN⋅3- ) and four rare earth (RE) ions are reported. 1-RE shows isolable species with ligand-based mixed valency as revealed by cyclic voltammetry (CV) thus leading to the isolation of 2-RE via one-electron chemical reduction. Strong electronic communication in mixed-valency supports stronger overall ferromagnetic behaviors in 2-RE than 1-RE containing Gd and Dy ions. Ac magnetic susceptibility data reveal 1-Dy and 2-Dy both exhibit slow magnetic relaxation. Importantly, larger coercive field was observed in the hysteresis of 2-Dy at 2.0 K, indicating the enhanced SMM behavior compared with 1-Dy. Ligand-based mixed-valency strategy has been used for the first time to improve the magnetic coupling in lanthanide (Ln) SMMs, thus opening up new ways to construct strongly coupled Ln-SMMs.

The Role of Radical Bridges in Polynuclear Single-Molecule Magnets.

Employing radical bridges between anisotropic metal ions has been a viable route to achieve high-performance single-molecule magnets (SMMs). While the bridges have been mainly considered for their ability to promote exchange interactions, the crystal-field effect arising from them has not been taken into account explicitly. This lack of consideration may distort the understanding and limit the development of the entire family. To shed light on this aspect, herein we report a theoretical investigation of a series of N 2 3 - -radical-bridged diterbium complexes. It is found that while promoting strong exchange coupling between the terbium ions, the N 2 3 - -radical induces a crystal field that interferes destructively with that of the outer ligands, and thus reduces the overall SMM behavior. Based on the theoretical results, we conclude that the SMM behavior in this series could be further maximized if the crystal field of the outer ligands is designed to be collinear with that of the radical bridge. This conclusion can be generalized to all exchange-coupled SMMs.

Lanthanide SMMs Based on Belt Macrocycles: Recent Advances and General Trends.

Enhancement of axial magnetic anisotropy is the central objective to push forward the performance of Single-Molecule Magnet (SMM) complexes. In the case of mononuclear lanthanide complexes, the chemical environment around the paramagnetic ion must be tuned to place strongly interacting ligands along either the axial positions or the equatorial plane, depending on the oblate or prolate preference of the selected lanthanide. One classical strategy to achieve a precise chemical environment for a metal centre is using highly structured, chelating ligands. A natural approach for axial-equatorial control is the employment of macrocycles acting in a belt conformation, providing the equatorial coordination environment, and leaving room for axial ligands. In this review, we present a survey of SMMs based on the macrocycle belt motif. Literature systems are divided in three families (crown ether, Schiff-base and metallacrown) and their general properties in terms of structural stability and SMM performance are briefly discussed.

Analysis of the Magnetic Coupling in a Mn(II)-U(V)-Mn(II) Single Molecule Magnet.

[{Mn(TPA)I}{UO2(Mesaldien)}{Mn(TPA)I}]I formula (here TPA=tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine and Mesaldien=N,N'-(2-aminomethyl)diethylenebis(salicylidene imine)) reported by Mazzanti and coworkers (Chatelain et al. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2014, 53, 13434) is so far the best Single Molecule Magnet (SMM) in the {3d-5f} class of molecules exhibiting barrier height of magnetization reversal as high as 81.0 K. In this work, we have employed a combination of ab initio CAS and DFT methods to fully characterize this compound and to extract the relevant spin Hamiltonian parameters. We show that the signs of the magnetic coupling and of the g-factors of the monomers are interconnected. The central magnetic unit [UV O2 ]+ is described by a Kramers Doublet (KD) with negative g-factors, due to a large orbital contribution. The magnetic coupling for the {Mn(II)-U(V)} pair is modeled by an anisotropic exchange Hamiltonian: all components are ferromagnetic in terms of spin moments, the parallel component JZ twice larger as the perpendicular one J⊥ . The spin density distribution suggests that spin polarization on the U(V) center favors the ferromagnetic coupling. Further, the JZ /J⊥ ratio, which is related to the barrier height, was found to correlate to the corresponding spin contribution of the g-factors of the U(V) center. This correlation established for the first time offers a direct way to estimate this important ratio from the corresponding gS -values, which can be obtained using traditional ab initio packages and hence has a wider application to other {3d-5f} magnets. It is finally shown that the magnetization barrier height is tuned by the splitting of the [UV O2 ]+ 5 f orbitals.

Mn12 -Acetate Complexes Studied as Single Molecules.

The phenomenon of single molecule magnet (SMM) behavior of mixed valent Mn12 coordination clusters of general formula [MnIII 8 MnIV 4 O12 (RCOO)16 (H2 O)4 ] had been exemplified by bulk samples of the archetypal [MnIII 8 MnIV 4 O12 (CH3 COO)16 (H2 O)4 ] (4) molecule, and the molecular origin of the observed magnetic behavior has found support from extensive studies on the Mn12 system within crystalline material or on molecules attached to a variety of surfaces. Here we report the magnetic signature of the isolated cationic species [Mn12 O12 (CH3 COO)15 (CH3 CN)]+ (1) by gas phase X-ray Magnetic Circular Dichroism (XMCD) spectroscopy, and we find it closely resembling that of the corresponding bulk samples. Furthermore, we report broken symmetry DFT calculations of spin densities and single ion tensors of the isolated, optimized complexes [Mn12 O12 (CH3 COO)15 (CH3 CN)]+ (1), [Mn12 O12 (CH3 COO)16 ] (2), [Mn12 O12 (CH3 COO)16 (H2 O)4 ] (3), and the complex in bulk geometry [MnIII 8 MnIV 4 O12 (CH3 COO)16 (H2 O)4 ] (5). The found magnetic fingerprints - experiment and theory alike - are of a remarkable robustness: The MnIV 4 core bears almost no magnetic anisotropy while the surrounding MnIII 8 ring is highly anisotropic. These signatures are truly intrinsic properties of the Mn12 core scaffold within all of these complexes and largely void of the environment. This likely holds irrespective of bulk packing effects.

Competing Easy-Axis Anisotropies Impacting Magnetic Tunnel Junction-Based Molecular Spintronics Devices (MTJMSDs).

Molecular spintronics devices (MSDs) attempt to harness molecules' quantum state, size, and configurable attributes for application in computer devices-a quest that began more than 70 years ago. In the vast number of theoretical studies and limited experimental attempts, MSDs have been found to be suitable for application in memory devices and futuristic quantum computers. MSDs have recently also exhibited intriguing spin photovoltaic-like phenomena, signaling their potential application in cost-effective and novel solar cell technologies. The molecular spintronics field's major challenge is the lack of mass-fabrication methods producing robust magnetic molecule connections with magnetic electrodes of different anisotropies. Another main challenge is the limitations of conventional theoretical methods for understanding experimental results and designing new devices. Magnetic tunnel junction-based molecular spintronics devices (MTJMSDs) are designed by covalently connecting paramagnetic molecules across an insulating tunneling barrier. The insulating tunneling barrier serves as a mechanical spacer between two ferromagnetic (FM) electrodes of tailorable magnetic anisotropies to allow molecules to undergo many intriguing phenomena. Our experimental studies showed that the paramagnetic molecules could produce strong antiferromagnetic coupling between two FM electrodes, leading to a dramatic large-scale impact on the magnetic electrode itself. Recently, we showed that the Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) was effective in providing plausible insights into the observation of unusual magnetic domains based on the role of single easy-axis magnetic anisotropy. Here, we experimentally show that the response of a paramagnetic molecule is dramatically different when connected to FM electrodes of different easy-axis anisotropies. Motivated by our experimental studies, here, we report on an MCS study investigating the impact of the simultaneous presence of two easy-axis anisotropies on MTJMSD equilibrium properties. In-plane easy-axis anisotropy produced multiple magnetic phases of opposite spins. The multiple magnetic phases vanished at higher thermal energy, but the MTJMSD still maintained a higher magnetic moment because of anisotropy. The out-of-plane easy-axis anisotropy caused a dominant magnetic phase in the FM electrode rather than multiple magnetic phases. The simultaneous application of equal-magnitude in-plane and out-of-plane easy-axis anisotropies on the same electrode negated the anisotropy effect. Our experimental and MCS study provides insights for designing and understanding new spintronics-based devices.

Tetraanionic arachno-Carboranyl Ligand Imparts Strong Axiality to Terbium(III) Single-Molecule Magnets.

A family of fully sandwiched arachno-lanthanacarborane complexes formulated as {η6 -[µ-1,2-[o-C6 H4 (CH2 )2 ]-1,2-C2 B10 H10 ]2 Ln}{Li5 (THF)10 } (Ln=Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Y) is successfully synthesized, where the "carbons-adjacent" carboranyl ligand (arachno-R2 -C2 B10 H10 4- ) bears four negative charges and coordinates to the central lanthanide ions using the hexagonal η6 C2 B4 face. Thus, the central lanthanide cations are pseudo-twelve-coordinate and have an approximate pseudo-D6h symmetry or hexagonal-prismatic geometry. As the crystal field effect imparted by this geometry is still unknown, we thoroughly investigated the magnetic properties of this series of complexes and found that the crystal field imposed by this ligand causes a relation of Tb>Dy>Ho>Er for the energy gaps between the ground and the first excited states, which is of striking resemblance to the ferrocenophane and phthalocyanine ligands although the latter two ligands give disparate local coordination geometries. Moreover, the effective energy barrier to magnetization reversal of 445(10) K, the observable hysteresis loop up to 4 K and the relaxation time of the yttrium-diluted sample reaching 193(17) seconds at 2 K under an optimized field for the Tb analogue of this family of arachno-lanthanacarborane complexes, render a new benchmark for Tb3+ -based single-molecule magnets.