Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 12, 2026
08:25
Chemical Vapor Deposition of an Organic Magnet, Vanadium Tetracyanoethylene
Published on: July 3, 2015
A cyano-based octanuclear {Fe(III)(4)Ni(II)(4)} single-molecule magnet.
Yuanzhu Zhang1, Uma Prasad Mallik, Nigam Rath
1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Missouri-St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri 63121, USA.
Chemical Communications (Cambridge, England)
|June 8, 2010
Summary
Researchers developed a novel octanuclear iron-nickel cyanide complex, a single-molecule magnet (SMM). This SMM demonstrates the highest energy barrier for magnetization reversal among first-row cyanide-based magnets.
Area of Science:
- Inorganic Chemistry
- Materials Science
- Magnetism
Background:
- Single-molecule magnets (SMMs) are crucial for developing high-density data storage and quantum computing.
- First-row transition metal cyanide-based complexes are promising candidates for SMMs due to their tunable magnetic properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize a new low symmetry octanuclear cyano-based {Fe(III)(4)Ni(II)(4)} complex.
- To investigate the impact of symmetry on the magnetic properties of {Fe(III)(4)Ni(II)(4)} single-molecule magnets.
- To achieve high energy barriers for magnetization reversal in first-row cyanide-based SMMs.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of the octanuclear {Fe(III)(4)Ni(II)(4)} complex.
- Magnetic property measurements, including static and dynamic susceptibility.
- Computational analysis to understand magnetic anisotropy and relaxation dynamics.
Main Results:
- A new low symmetry octanuclear cyano-based {Fe(III)(4)Ni(II)(4)} single-molecule magnet was successfully synthesized.
- This SMM exhibits the highest energy barrier (Delta/k(B) ≈ 33 K) for magnetization reversal reported for any first-row cyanide-based complex.
- Comparison with cubic {Fe(III)(4)Ni(II)(4)} boxes highlights the critical role of anisotropy axes alignment in determining SMM performance.
Conclusions:
- Low symmetry in octanuclear {Fe(III)(4)Ni(II)(4)} complexes can lead to enhanced single-molecule magnet properties.
- Anisotropy axes alignment is a key factor in optimizing the energy barrier for magnetization reversal.
- This work provides insights into the rational design of high-performance cyanide-based single-molecule magnets.
More Related Videos
06:53Magnetometric Characterization of Intermediates in the Solid-State Electrochemistry of Redox-Active Metal-Organic Frameworks
Published on: June 9, 2023
10:57Synthesis and Performance Characterizations of Transition Metal Single Atom Catalyst for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction
Published on: April 10, 2018
Related Concept Videos
03:02Colors and Magnetism
Color in Coordination Complexes
When atoms or molecules absorb light at the proper frequency, their electrons are excited to higher-energy orbitals. For many main group atoms and molecules, the absorbed photons are in the ultraviolet range of the electromagnetic spectrum, which cannot be detected by the human eye. For coordination compounds, the energy difference between the d orbitals often allows photons in the visible range to be absorbed and emitted, which is seen as colors by the human eye.
When atoms or molecules absorb light at the proper frequency, their electrons are excited to higher-energy orbitals. For many main group atoms and molecules, the absorbed photons are in the ultraviolet range of the electromagnetic spectrum, which cannot be detected by the human eye. For coordination compounds, the energy difference between the d orbitals often allows photons in the visible range to be absorbed and emitted, which is seen as colors by the human eye.
02:42Valence Bond Theory
Coordination compounds and complexes exhibit different colors, geometries, and magnetic behavior, depending on the metal atom/ion and ligands from which they are composed. In an attempt to explain the bonding and structure of coordination complexes, Linus Pauling proposed the valence bond theory, or VBT, using the concepts of hybridization and the overlapping of the atomic orbitals. According to VBT, the central metal atom or ion (Lewis acid) hybridizes to provide empty orbitals of suitable...
01:31Ferromagnetism
Materials like iron, nickel, and cobalt consist of magnetic domains, within which the magnetic dipoles are arranged parallel to each other. The magnetic dipoles are rigidly aligned in the same direction within a domain by quantum mechanical coupling among the atoms. This coupling is so strong that even thermal agitation at room temperature cannot break it. The result is that each domain has a net dipole moment. However, some materials have weaker coupling, and are ferromagnetic at lower...
01:26Diamagnetism
Materials consisting of paired electrons have zero net magnetic moments. However, when these materials are placed under an external magnetic field, the moments opposite to the field are induced. Such materials are called diamagnets. Diamagnetism is the response of the diamagnets when placed in an external magnetic field.
Diamagnetism was discovered by Anton Brugmans in 1778 when he observed that bismuth gets repelled by magnetic fields, thus theorizing that diamagnets get repelled by magnets.
Diamagnetism was discovered by Anton Brugmans in 1778 when he observed that bismuth gets repelled by magnetic fields, thus theorizing that diamagnets get repelled by magnets.
02:58Crystal Field Theory - Octahedral Complexes
Crystal Field Theory
To explain the observed behavior of transition metal complexes (such as colors), a model involving electrostatic interactions between the electrons from the ligands and the electrons in the unhybridized d orbitals of the central metal atom has been developed. This electrostatic model is crystal field theory (CFT). It helps to understand, interpret, and predict the colors, magnetic behavior, and some structures of coordination compounds of transition metals.
CFT focuses on...
To explain the observed behavior of transition metal complexes (such as colors), a model involving electrostatic interactions between the electrons from the ligands and the electrons in the unhybridized d orbitals of the central metal atom has been developed. This electrostatic model is crystal field theory (CFT). It helps to understand, interpret, and predict the colors, magnetic behavior, and some structures of coordination compounds of transition metals.
CFT focuses on...
02:34Structural Isomerism
Isomerism in Complexes
Isomers are different chemical species that have the same chemical formula. Structural isomerism of coordination compounds can be divided into two subcategories, the linkage isomers and coordination-sphere isomers.
Linkage isomers occur when the coordination compound contains a ligand that can bind to the transition metal center through two different atoms. For example, the CN− ligand can bind through the carbon atom or through the nitrogen atom. Similarly, SCN− can be...
Isomers are different chemical species that have the same chemical formula. Structural isomerism of coordination compounds can be divided into two subcategories, the linkage isomers and coordination-sphere isomers.
Linkage isomers occur when the coordination compound contains a ligand that can bind to the transition metal center through two different atoms. For example, the CN− ligand can bind through the carbon atom or through the nitrogen atom. Similarly, SCN− can be...