Two-Dimensional Cobalt(II) Benzoquinone Frameworks for Putative Kitaev Quantum Spin Liquid Candidates

The realization and discovery of quantum spin liquid (QSL) candidate materials are crucial for exploring exotic quantum phenomena and applications associated with QSLs. Most existing metal-organic two-dimensional (2D) quantum spin liquid candidates have structures with spins arranged on the triangular or kagome lattices, whereas honeycomb-structured metal-organic compounds with QSL characteristics are rare. Here, we report the use of 2,5-dihydroxy-1,4-benzoquinone (X2dhbq, X = Cl, Br, H) as the linkers to construct cobalt(II) honeycomb lattices (NEt4)2[Co2(X2dhbq)3] as promising Kitaev-type QSL candidate materials. The high-spin d7 Co2+ has pseudospin-1/2 ground-state doublets, and benzoquinone-based linkers not only provide two separate superexchange pathways that create bond-dependent frustrated interactions but also allow for chemical tunability to mediate magnetic coupling. Our magnetization data show antiferromagnetic interactions between neighboring metal centers with Weiss constants from -5.1 to -8.5 K depending on the X functional group in X2dhbq linkers (X = Cl, Br, H). No magnetic transition or spin freezing could be observed down to 2 K. Low-temperature susceptibility (down to 0.3 K) and specific heat (down to 0.055 K) of (NEt4)2[Co2(H2dhbq)3] were further analyzed. Heat capacity measurements confirmed no long-range order down to 0.055 K, evidenced by the broad peak instead of the λ-like anomaly. Our results indicate that these 2D cobalt benzoquinone frameworks are promising Kitaev QSL candidates with chemical tunability through ligands that can vary the magnetic coupling and frustration.

Electronic structure and magnetic properties of transition metal Kagome metal-organic frameworks

Kagome metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are considered a new class of materials that can host two-dimensional (2D) magnetism and correlated electron phenomena such as superconductivity and quantum anomalous Hall effect. Despite...

Modulation of Magnetic Anisotropy and Exchange Interaction in Phenoxide-Bridged Dinuclear Co(II) Complexes

We report a new class of four dimeric Co(II) complexes [Co₂(bbpen)(X)₂] (H₂bbpen = N,N'-bis(2-hydroxybenzyl)-N,N'-bis(2-methylpyridyl)ethylenediamine) [X^- = SCN (1), Cl (2), Br (3), and I (4)] with different coordination geometry of two Co(II) centers (trigonal-prismatic and pseudo-tetrahedral) and their magnetic study. Interestingly, the two Co(II) centers show two different types of magnetic anisotropy. State of the art ab initio CASSCF analysis reveals that the six-coordinate or the trigonal-prismatic Co(II) center possesses a consistently large negative axial zero-field splitting (negative D) parameter (∼-60 cm^-1), while the four-coordinate or the pseudo-tetrahedral Co(II) center exhibits a range of D values from +13 to -23 cm^-1. Ab initio calculations employing the lines model were used to estimate the magnetic exchange as both the Co(II) centers possess significant magnetic anisotropy. All the complexes display rare ferromagnetic interaction, and the strength of this interaction decreases as the ligand field on the pseudo-tetrahedral Co(II) center decreases from SCN^- > Cl^- > Br^- > I^-.

Different Phenomena in Magnetic/Electrical Properties of Co(II) and Ni(II) Isomorphous MOFs

Two unprecedented and stable metal-organic frameworks, {[Co₂(H₂O)₂(L)(OH)]·2.5H₂O·0.5DMF} _n (1) and {[Ni₂(H₂O)₂(L)(OH)]·1.75H₂O} _n (2), have been synthesized (H₃L = 5-(5-carboxy-pyridin-3-yloxy)-isophthalic acid, DMF = N,N-dimethylformamide). Structural analysis shows that 1 and 2 are heteronuclear isomorphous, possessing a three-dimensional (3D) (4,8)-connected flu/fluorite topological framework formed through the interconnection of tetranuclear butterfly {M₄(COO)₆(OH)₂} clusters and the ligands. Although the frameworks of these two compounds are similar, their magnetic properties are different. Compound 1 exhibits an antiferromagnetic interaction in the high-temperature region, while 2 shows a weak ferromagnetic interaction in the whole-temperature region. Furthermore, considering the presence of hydroxyl groups and water molecules in the frameworks, we tested their proton conductivity. The efficient proton transfer pathway in the framework endowed 1 and 2 with excellent proton conductivities of 9.07 × 10^-5 and 1.29 × 10^-4 S·cm^-1 at 363 K and 98% relative humidity (RH), respectively.

3D Metal-Organic Frameworks Based on Co(II) and Bithiophendicarboxylate: Synthesis, Crystal Structures, Gas Adsorption, and Magnetic Properties

Three new 3D metal-organic porous frameworks based on Co(II) and 2,2′-bithiophen-5,5′-dicarboxylate (btdc²⁻) [Co₃(btdc)₃(bpy)₂]·4DMF, 1; [Co₃(btdc)₃(pz)(dmf)₂]·4DMF·1.5H₂O, 2; [Co₃(btdc)₃(dmf)₄]∙2DMF∙2H₂O, 3 (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridyl, pz = pyrazine, dmf = N,N-dimethylformamide) were synthesized and structurally characterized. All compounds share the same trinuclear carboxylate building units {Co₃(RCOO)₆}, connected either by btdc^2– ligands (1, 3) or by both btdc^2– and pz bridging ligands (2). The permanent porosity of 1 was confirmed by N₂, O₂, CO, CO₂, CH₄ adsorption measurements at various temperatures (77 K, 273 K, 298 K), resulted in BET surface area 667 m²⋅g⁻¹ and promising gas separation performance with selectivity factors up to 35.7 for CO₂/N₂, 45.4 for CO₂/O₂, 20.8 for CO₂/CO, and 4.8 for CO₂/CH₄. The molar magnetic susceptibilities χ_p(T) were measured for 1 and 2 in the temperature range 1.77–330 K at magnetic fields up to 10 kOe. The room-temperature values of the effective magnetic moments for compounds 1 and 2 are μ_eff (300 K) ≈ 4.93 μ_B. The obtained results confirm the mainly paramagnetic nature of both compounds with some antiferromagnetic interactions at low-temperatures T < 20 K in 2 between the Co(II) cations separated by short pz linkers. Similar conclusions were also derived from the field-depending magnetization data of 1 and 2.

Exchange coupled Co(ii) based layered and porous metal-organic frameworks: structural diversity, gas adsorption, and magnetic properties

Four new Co(ii) based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) ({[Co3(L)(TDCA)3(DMF)2]n·2nCH3CN}) (1), ({[Co3(L)2(BDCA)3]n·2nCH3CN}) (2), {[Co2(L)2(CA)2]n·4nCH3CN} (3) and {[Co2(L)(OBBA)2]n·3nCH3CN} (4) are synthesized, where L is [4'-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4,2':6',4''-terpyridine], a V-shaped flexible neutral spacer, and the four dicarboxylates are TDCA = thiophene 2,5-dicarboxylic acid, BDCA = benzene 1,4-dicarboxylic acid, CA = (1R,3S)-(+)-camphoric acid and OBBA = 4,4'-oxybisbenzoic acid. Structural analysis reveals that 1 and 2 are two dimensional (2D) layered structures having interesting sql and hxl topologies respectively with trinuclear SBUs (secondary building units). Compound 3 has a 3D structure, whereas 4 has a 2-fold interpenetrated 3D packing structure with a paddlewheel dinuclear SBU and both have pcu topology. Magnetic investigation revealed that 1, 3 and 4 show dominant antiferromagnetic behavior, while 2 shows ferromagnetic interaction at very low temperature. Interestingly 4 shows a sharp decrease in the χMT value from room temperature and this may be because of the direct Co(ii)Co(ii) interaction. Gas sorption studies reveal that 1, 2 and 3 show surface areas of 11.8 m2 g-1, 8.3 m2 g-1 and 28.5 m2 g-1 respectively and better adsorption behavior for CO2 over CH4, whereas 4 is nonporous in nature due to its 2-fold interpenetrated structure.

Field-induced slow magnetic relaxation in two interpenetrated cobalt(ii) metal–organic framework isomers

Two interpenetrated cobalt(ii) metal–organic framework (MOF) isomers were successfully synthesized and magnetically characterized. These compounds are the first example of MOF isomers showing field-induced single-ion magnet behavior.