Quantum signatures of a molecular nanomagnet in direct magnetocaloric measurements

Geometric spin frustration in low-dimensional materials, such as the two-dimensional kagome or triangular antiferromagnetic nets, can significantly enhance the change of the magnetic entropy and adiabatic temperature following a change in the applied magnetic field, that is, the magnetocaloric effect. In principle, an equivalent outcome should also be observable in certain high-symmetry zero-dimensional, that is, molecular, structures with frustrated topologies. Here we report experimental realization of this in a heptametallic gadolinium molecule. Adiabatic demagnetization experiments reach ~200 mK, the first sub-Kelvin cooling with any molecular nanomagnet, and reveal isentropes (the constant entropy paths followed in the temperature-field plane) with a rich structure. The latter is shown to be a direct manifestation of the trigonal antiferromagnetic net structure, allowing study of frustration-enhanced magnetocaloric effects in a finite system.

The magnetocaloric effect is well understood in spin-frustrated low-dimensional systems, and should be observable in certain high-symmetry molecular structures. Here, the authors report the experimental observation of sub-Kelvin cooling with a molecular magnet, and probe the low-temperature spin behaviour.

Surface coordination chemistry: corrosion inhibition by tetranuclear cluster formation of iron with salicylaldoxime

A tetranuclear iron cluster is the principal component of the purple coatings produced by treating a mild steel surface with a salicylaldoxime corrosion inhibitor. This was shown by comparison of the spectroscopic data with those of the cluster [{Fe(salH)(HsalH)}4 ], which was obtained from FeCl3 and salicylaldoxime (H2 salH) and has a distorted tetrahedral arrangement of Fe(III) atoms coordinated by terminal (1-) and bridging (2-) salicylaldoximate ligands (the central core of the cluster is depicted).

Large zero-field splittings of the ground spin state arising from antisymmetric exchange effects in heterometallic triangles

[Ru2Mn(O)(O2CtBu)6(py)3] has an S=5/2 ground state with a very large zero-field splitting (ZFS) of D=2.9 cm(-1), as characterized by EPR spectroscopy at 4-330 GHz. This is far too large to be due to the Mn(II) ion (D <0.2 cm(-1)), as shown from the {Fe2Mn} analogue, but can be modeled by antisymmetric exchange effects.

The coordination chemistry and magnetism of some 3d-4f and 4f amino-polyalcohol compounds

Triethanolamine, teaH3, and diethanolamine, RdeaH2, 3d-4f and 4f compounds demonstrate an enormous variety in their structure and bonding. This review examines the synthetic strategies to these molecules and their magnetic properties, whilst trying to assess these ligands' suitability towards new SMMs and magnetic refrigerants.

EPR based distance measurement in Cu-porphyrin–DNA

Measurement of EPR spectra of Cu-porphyrin–DNA reveals intermolecular interactions between the DNA strands with average distances of 6.5–8.9 Å.

Kinetics vs. thermodynamics: a unique crystal transformation from a uranyl peroxo-nanocluster to a nanoclustered uranyl polyborate

Kinetics vs. thermodynamics: a novel method has been developed to make a nano-clustered uranyl polyborate in aqueous solution at room temperature through a unique crystal transformation.

A dense metal-organic framework for enhanced magnetic refrigeration

The three-dimensional metal-organic framework Gd(HCOO)3 is characterized by a relatively compact crystal lattice of weakly interacting Gd(3+) spin centers interconnected via lightweight formate ligands, overall providing a remarkably large magnetic:non-magnetic elemental weight ratio. The resulting magnetocaloric effect per unit volume is decidedly superior in Gd(HCOO)3 than in the best known magnetic refrigerant materials for liquid-helium temperatures and low-moderate applied fields.