Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 18, 2026
10:23
Synthesis of Cationized Magnetoferritin for Ultra-fast Magnetization of Cells
Published on: December 13, 2016
10.6K
A ferromagnetically coupled Fe42 cyanide-bridged nanocage
Soonchul Kang1, Hui Zheng2, Tao Liu2
1Institute for Materials Chemistry and Engineering, Kyushu University, 6-1 Kasuga-koen, Kasuga, Fukuoka 816-8580, Japan.
Nature Communications
|January 7, 2015
Summary
Scientists created a novel magnetic nanocage using iron ions. This biomimetic structure exhibits the highest ground-state spin number (S = 45) ever recorded for a molecule.
Area of Science:
- Nanotechnology and Materials Science
- Molecular Magnetism
- Biomimetic Chemistry
Background:
- Self-assembly of nanoscale units into superstructures is a key area in materials science.
- Developing artificial nanoarchitectures with enhanced physical properties remains a significant challenge.
- High-spin (HS) molecules are a major focus in molecular magnetism research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize a novel cyanide-bridged magnetic nanocage.
- To investigate the magnetic properties of the assembled nanoarchitecture.
- To achieve a record-breaking ground-state spin number in a molecular system.
Main Methods:
- Utilized cyanide-bridged coordination chemistry for self-assembly.
- Employed magnetic measurements to determine the ground-state spin.
- Characterized the structure of the resulting nanocage.
Main Results:
- Successfully synthesized a cyanide-bridged magnetic nanocage.
- The nanocage comprises 18 high-spin iron(III) ions and 24 low-spin iron(II) ions.
- Achieved ferromagnetic coupling between iron(III) centers, resulting in the highest ground-state spin number (S = 45) reported for a molecule.
Conclusions:
- The developed magnetic nanocage represents a significant advancement in molecular magnetism.
- This biomimetic approach demonstrates the potential for creating advanced nanoarchitectures with unique magnetic properties.
- The record spin number opens new avenues for research in molecular spintronics and quantum computing.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
03:02Colors and Magnetism
14.9K
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...
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...
14.9K
02:42Valence Bond Theory
11.9K
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...
11.9K
01:31Ferromagnetism
3.6K
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...
3.6K
03:45Formation of Complex Ions
27.1K
A type of Lewis acid-base chemistry involves the formation of a complex ion (or a coordination complex) comprising a central atom, typically a transition metal cation, surrounded by ions or molecules called ligands. These ligands can be neutral molecules like H2O or NH3, or ions such as CN− or OH−. Often, the ligands act as Lewis bases, donating a pair of electrons to the central atom. These types of Lewis acid-base reactions are examples of a broad subdiscipline called coordination...
27.1K
02:58Crystal Field Theory - Octahedral Complexes
32.2K
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...
32.2K
02:46Crystal Field Theory - Tetrahedral and Square Planar Complexes
50.1K
Tetrahedral Complexes
Crystal field theory (CFT) is applicable to molecules in geometries other than octahedral. In octahedral complexes, the lobes of the dx2−y2 and dz2 orbitals point directly at the ligands. For tetrahedral complexes, the d orbitals remain in place, but with only four ligands located between the axes. None of the orbitals points directly at the tetrahedral ligands. However, the dx2−y2 and dz2 orbitals (along the Cartesian axes) overlap with the ligands less than...
Crystal field theory (CFT) is applicable to molecules in geometries other than octahedral. In octahedral complexes, the lobes of the dx2−y2 and dz2 orbitals point directly at the ligands. For tetrahedral complexes, the d orbitals remain in place, but with only four ligands located between the axes. None of the orbitals points directly at the tetrahedral ligands. However, the dx2−y2 and dz2 orbitals (along the Cartesian axes) overlap with the ligands less than...
50.1K