Oxalate-bridging NdIII-based arsenotungstate with multifunctional NIR-luminescence and magnetic properties

Single-Molecule Magnet Behavior of Confined Dy(III) in a Mixed Heteroatom-Substituted Polyoxotungstate

Two heteroatom-templated Dy(III)-confined polyoxotungstates [H2N(CH3)2]7Na7[Dy2(H2O)7(W4O9)(HPSeW15O54)(α-SeW9O33)2]·31H2O (1) and [H2N(CH3)2]14K2Na18{[Dy2(H2O)13W14O40]2[α-SeW9O33]4[HPSeW15O54]2}·44H2O (2) were synthesized by a one-pot aqueous reaction and structurally characterized. The most distinctive structural feature of complexes 1 & 2 is the simultaneous presence of both trivacant Keggin [α-SeW9O33]8- and Dawson [HPSeW15O54]10- building blocks containing P(III)-Se(IV) heteroatoms. The trimeric polyanion of 1 can be represented as a fusion of two trivacant Keggin [α-SeW9O33]8- and Dawson [HPSeW15O54]10- building units encapsulating the [Dy2(H2O)7(W4O9)]12+ cluster. On the other hand, hexameric polyoxoanions of 2 are described as four trivacant Keggin [α-SeW9O33]8- and two Dawson [HPSeW15O54]10-, building units anchoring a [Dy4(H2O)26W28O80]20+ cluster. The magnetic investigation revealed the presence of significant magnetic anisotropy and slow relaxation of magnetization behavior for complex 1 with a phenomenological energy barrier, Ueff = 13.58 K in the absence of an external magnetic field, and Ueff = 24.57 K in the presence of a 500 Oe external dc magnetic field. On the other hand, complex 2 favors the QTM relaxation process in the absence of an external magnetic field and shows field-induced slow relaxation of magnetization with Ueff = 11.11 K at 1500 Oe applied dc field. The in-depth analysis of magnetic relaxation dynamics shows that the relaxation process follows the Orbach as well as Raman relaxation pathways. Further, the ab initio calculation of the studied complexes confirms that the highly axial ground and first excited energy states (containing pure highest mJ states) are responsible for the observed single-molecule magnet (SMM) behavior. Remarkably, this is the first example of a mixed heteroatom-based Dy(III)-substituted polyoxotungstate with both trimeric Keggin [α-SeW9O33]8- and Dawson [HPSeW15O54]10- building units showing SMM behavior.

Covalency versus magnetic axiality in Nd molecular magnets: Nd-photoluminescence, strong ligand-field, and unprecedented nephelauxetic effect in fullerenes NdM2N@C80 (M = Sc, Lu, Y)

Nd-based nitride clusterfullerenes NdM2N@C80 with rare-earth metals of different sizes (M = Sc, Y, Lu) were synthesized to elucidate the influence of the cluster composition, shape and internal strain on the structural and magnetic properties. Single crystal X-ray diffraction revealed a very short Nd-N bond length in NdSc2N@C80. For Lu and Y analogs, the further shortening of the Nd-N bond and pyramidalization of the NdM2N cluster are predicted by DFT calculations as a result of the increased cluster size and a strain caused by the limited size of the fullerene cage. The short distance between Nd and nitride ions leads to a very large ligand-field splitting of Nd3+ of 1100-1200 cm-1, while the variation of the NdM2N cluster composition and concomitant internal strain results in the noticeable modulation of the splitting, which could be directly assessed from the well-resolved fine structure in the Nd-based photoluminescence spectra of NdM2N@C80 clusterfullerenes. Photoluminescence measurements also revealed an unprecedentedly strong nephelauxetic effect, pointing to a high degree of covalency. The latter appears detrimental to the magnetic axiality despite the strong ligand field. As a result, the ground magnetic state has considerable transversal components of the pseudospin g-tensor, and the slow magnetic relaxation of NdSc2N@C80 could be observed by AC magnetometry only in the presence of a magnetic field. A combination of the well-resolved magneto-optical states and slow relaxation of magnetization suggests that Nd clusterfullerenes can be useful building blocks for magneto-photonic quantum technologies.

Hexameric polyoxotantalate with proton conduction properties

The first Fe-implanted polyoxotantalate (POTa), K12Na14H7.4[Fe10.7Ta1.3O8(OH)8(H2O)2(Ta6O19)6]·114.5H2O (1), has been obtained by self-assembly in alkaline solution. The polyanion consists of six Lindqvist-type {Ta6} units linked together by {Fe10.7Ta1.3}. The compound not only possesses the highest nuclearity transition metal-oxygen cluster, but also has the highest degree of polymerization in the POTa field to date. And 1 possesses remarkable proton conduction.

Layered lanthanide phosphonates Ln(2-qpH)(SO4)(H2O)2 (Ln = La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm): polymorphism and magnetic properties

Polymorphic layered lanthanide coordination polymers provide opportunities to study the effect of intralayer and interlayer interactions on their magnetic dynamics. Herein we report a series of layered lanthanide phosphonates, namely, α-Ln(2-qpH)(SO4)(H2O)2 (Ln = Sm) (α-Ln), β-Ln(2-qpH)(SO4)(H2O)2 (Ln = Pr, Nd, Sm) (β-Ln) and γ-Ln(2-qpH)(SO4)(H2O)2 (Ln = La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm) (γ-Ln) (2-qpH2 = 2-quinolinephosphonic acid), which crystallize in monoclinic P21/c (α-Ln), triclinic P1̄ (β-Ln) and orthorhombic Pbca (γ-Ln) space groups, respectively. The structural differences between the β- and γ-phases lie not only in the intralayer but also in the interlayer. Within the layers, the Ln2O2 dimers are aligned parallel in the β-phase, but are non-parallel in the γ-phase. In the interlayer, there are π-π interactions between the quinoline groups in the α- and β-phases but not in the γ-phase. Magnetic studies reveal a field-induced slow relaxation of the magnetisation at low temperatures for compounds γ-Ce, β-Nd, and γ-Nd, and the impact of polymorphism on the magnetic dynamics of Nd(III) compounds is discussed.

Discovery and Isolation of Two Arsenotungastate Species: [As4W48O168]36- and [As2W21O77(H2O)3]22

Two novel arsenotungstate species, [As₄W₄₈O₁₆₈]^36- (1a) and [As₂W₂₁O₇₇(H₂O)₃]^22- (2a), have been successfully isolated under a one-pot synthetic method. 1a is the second largest arsenotungstate cluster and is constructed from four {AsW₁₂} clusters combined together. 2a can be described as lacunary sites of {As₂W₁₉} filled by {W₂O₈} units. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibit proton conductivity properties, and the conductivity value of 1 is 5.0 × 10^-3 S cm^-1 at 98% relative humidity and 75 °C. This work proves that the lattice water molecules and polyoxoanions can participate in the formation of a hydrogen bond, acting as effective pathway for intermolecular proton conduction.