Geometric and Electronic Structures of Multiple-Decker One-End Open Sandwich Clusters: Eun(C8H8)n- (n = 1−4)

Spin Transport Properties of One-Dimensional Benzene Ligand Organobimetallic Sandwich Molecular Wires

Organometallic sandwich complexes, composed of cyclic hydrocarbon ligands and transition-metal atoms, display unique physical and chemical properties. In this work, the electronic and spin transport properties of one-dimensional (1D) VBz2 ligand bimetallic sandwich complexes, VBz2-TM (TM = Cr, Mn, and Fe), are systematically investigated using density functional theory and nonequilibrium Green's function method. The results show that all the 1D infinite molecular wires [(VBz2)TM]∞ (TM = Cr-Fe) are found to be thermodynamically stable with high binding energies (∼1.0-3.45 eV). In particular, they are predicted to be ferromagnetic half metals. Moreover, the I-V curves exhibit negative differential resistance for one, two, and three VBz2-TM wires at TM = Cr, Mn, and Fe, respectively, which is of great significance for certain electronic applications. Our findings strongly suggest that the benzene ligand bimetallic sandwich molecular wires are good candidates for potential electronics and spintronics.

Probing the structures, electronic and bonding properties of multidecker lanthanides: Neutral and anionic Lnn(COT)m (Ln = Ce, Nd, Eu, Ho and Yb; n, m = 1, 2) complexes

The ground state structures of neutral and anionic Ln_n(COT)_m (Ln = Ce, Nd, Eu, Ho and Yb; n, m = 1, 2) complexes have been identified by density functional theory. Ln(COT)_1,2^0/- and Ln₂(COT)₂^0/- complexes are found to possess sandwich ground state structures in which Ln atoms and COT molecules are alternately stacked except for Nd₂COT₂^0/-. Our calculated AEA and VDE values show good agreement with the available experimental values, which validates that our obtained ground state structures are credible. Based on the frontier molecular orbitals, we find that the bond formation between the 4f electrons of Ln atoms and the π clouds of COT molecules is weak. Then, the bond strength within these complexes is further analyzed based on the topological analysis of electron density at bond critical point. By analyzing Hirshfeld charge, we find Ln_n(COT)_m^0/- are charge-transfer complexes with weak bonding feature.

Theoretical Study on the Photoelectron Spectra of Ln(COT)2-: Lanthanide Dependence of the Metal-Ligand Interaction

We have performed a theoretical analysis of the recently reported photoelectron (PE) spectra of the series of sandwich complex anions Ln(COT)₂^- (Ln = La-Lu, COT = 1,3,5,7-cyclooctatetraene), focusing on the Ln dependence of the vertical detachment energies. For most Ln, the π molecular orbitals, largely localized on the COT ligands, have the energy order of e_1g < e_1u < e_2g < e_2u as in the actinide analogues, reflecting the substantial orbital interaction with the Ln 5d and 5p orbitals. Thus, it would be expected that the lanthanide contraction would increase the orbital interaction so that the overlaps between the COT π and Ln atomic orbitals tend to increase across the series. However, the PE spectra and theoretical calculations were not consistent with this expectation, and the details have been clarified in this study. Furthermore, the energy level splitting patterns of the anion and neutral complexes have been studied by multireference ab initio methods, and the X peak splittings observed in the PE spectra only for the middle-range Ln complexes were found to be due to the specific interaction between the Ln 4f and ligand π orbitals of the neutral complexes in e_2u symmetry. Because the magnitude of this 4f-ligand interaction depends critically on the final state 4f electron configuration and the spin state, a significant Ln dependence in the PE spectra is explained.

A first principles study of novel one-dimensional organic half-metal vanadium-cyclooctatetraene wire

The structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of one-dimensional vanadium-cyclooctatetraene[(V-COT)]∞ wire and sandwich clusters are investigated by means of density functional theory. It is found that the (V-COT)∞ SMW is half-metallic. Through the spin transportation calculations, the system for V-COT clusters coupled to gold electrodes performs nearly perfect spin filters. In addition, the I-V curve shows obviously negative differential resistance effects. These results suggest the potential applications of (V-COT)∞ in spintronics.

Structures and magnetism of multinuclear vanadium-pentacene sandwich clusters and their 1D molecular wires

Two types of multinuclear sandwich clusters, (V(3))(n)Pen(n+1), (V(4))(n)Pen(n+1) (Pen = Pentacene; n = 1, 2), and their corresponding infinite one-dimensional (1D) molecular wires ([V(3)Pen](∞), [V(4)Pen](∞)) are investigated theoretically, especially on their magnetic coupling mechanism. These sandwich clusters and molecular wires are found to be of high stability and exhibit intriguing magnetic properties. The intra-layered V atoms in (V(3))(n)Pen(n+1) clusters prefer antiferromagnetic (AFM) coupling, while they can be either ferromagnetic (FM) or AFM coupling in (V(4))(n)Pen(n+1) depending on the intra-layered V-V distances via direct exchange or superexchange mechanism. The inter-layered V atoms favor FM coupling in (V(3))(2)Pen(3), whereas they are AFM coupled in (V(4))(2)Pen(3). Such magnetic behaviors are the consequence of the competition between direct exchange and superexchange interactions among inter-layered V atoms. In contrast, the 1D molecular wires, [V(3)Pen](∞) and [V(4)Pen](∞), appear to be FM metallic with ultra high magnetic moments of 6.8 and 4.0 μ(B) per unit cell respectively, suggesting that they can be served as good candidates for molecular magnets.

Design of the local spin polarization at the organic-ferromagnetic interface

By means of ab initio calculations and spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy experiments the creation of a complex energy dependent magnetic structure with a tailored spin-polarized interface is demonstrated. We show this novel effect by adsorbing organic molecules containing π(p(z)) electrons onto a magnetic surface. The hybridization of the out-of-plane p(z) atomic-type orbitals with the d states of the metal leads to the inversion of the spin polarization at the organic site due to a p(z)-d Zener exchange-type mechanism. As a key result, we demonstrate the possibility to selectively and efficiently inject spin-up and spin-down electrons from a ferromagnetic-organic interface, an effect which can be exploited in future spintronic devices.

Theoretical studies on structural, magnetic, and spintronic characteristics of sandwiched Eu(n)COT(n+1) (n = 1-4) clusters

Europium (Eu)-cyclootetatrene (COT = C(8)H(8)) multidecker clusters (Eu(n)COT(n+1), n = 1-4) are studied by relativistic density functional theory calculations. These clusters are found to be thermodynamically stable with freely rotatable COT rings, and their total magnetic moments (MMs) increase linearly along with the number of Eu atoms. Each Eu atom contributes about 7 mu(B) to the cluster. Meanwhile, the internal COT rings have little MM contribution while the external COT rings have about 1 mu(B) MM aligned in opposite direction to that of the Eu atoms. The total MM of the Eu(n)COT(n+1) clusters can thus be generalized as 7n - 2 mu(B) where n is the number of Eu atoms. Besides, the ground states of these clusters are ferromagnetic and energetically competitive with the antiferromagnetic states, meaning that their spin states are very unstable, especially for larger clusters. More importantly, we uncover an interesting bonding characteristic of these clusters in which the interior ionic structure is capped by two hybrid covalent-ionic terminals. We suggest that such a characteristic makes the Eu(n)COT(n+1) clusters extremely stable. Finally, we reveal that for the positively charged clusters, the hybrid covalent-ionic terminals will tip further toward the interior part of the clusters to form deeper covalent-ionic caps. In contrast, the negatively charged clusters turn to pure ionic structures.

Ab initio study of structural and magnetic properties of TM(n)(ferrocene)(n+1) (TM = Sc, Ti, V, Mn) sandwich clusters and nanowires (n = infinity)

Structural and magnetic properties of multidecker sandwich clusters TM(n)(ferrocene)(n+1) [TM = V, Ti, Sc, Mn, ferrocene=FeCp(2), n = 1-3] and corresponding one-dimensional sandwich nanowires (n = infinity) are studied by means of gradient-corrected density functional theory. The TM(n)(FeCp(2))(n+1) clusters are highly stable polyferrocene-like sandwich structures due to strong Fe-Cp interaction. The total magnetic moment of TM(n)(FeCp(2))(n+1) (TM = V, Ti, Mn) increases linearly with the size n. More strikingly, Ti(n)(FeCp(2))(n+1) and V(n)(FeCp(2))(n+1) (n = 1-3) exhibit high magnetic moments 4, 8, 12 mu(B) and 1, 6, 11 mu(B), respectively. In contrast, Sc(n)(FeCp(2))(n+1) clusters are paramagnetic. The [TM(FeCp(2))](infinity) sandwich nanowires are ferromagnetic semiconductors whose band gap is 0.361, 0.506, 0.51, and 1.310 eV, respectively, for TM = Ti, Sc, V, and Mn. Among the four sandwich nanowires, [V(FeCp(2))](infinity) nanowire possesses the highest magnetic moment (5 mu(B)) per unit cell.

Controlling the magnetization direction in molecules via their oxidation state

By means of ab initio calculations we predict that it is possible to manipulate the magnetization direction in organic magnetic molecules by changing their oxidation state. We demonstrate this novel effect on the Eu2(C8H8)3 molecule, in which the hybridization of the outer pi ring states with the Eu 4f states causes a redistribution of the orbitals around the Fermi level leading to a strong ferromagnetism due to a hole-mediated exchange mechanism. As a key result, we predict an oscillatory behavior of the easy axis of the magnetization as a function of the oxidation state of the molecule-a new effect, which could lead to new technological applications.