Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 24, 2026

Methods of Ex Situ and In Situ Investigations of Structural Transformations: The Case of Crystallization of Metallic Glasses
Published on: June 7, 2018
Molecular Dynamics of Hexamethylbenzene at Low Temperatures: Evidence of Unconventional Magnetism Based on Rotational
Fei Yen1,2, Zhenzheng Zhao3, Sixia Hu4
1Department of Physics, Southern University of Science and Technology, 1088 Xueyuan Blvd., Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, P. R. China.
Abstract:
The types of magnetism known to date are all mainly based on contributions from electron motion. We show how rotational motion of protons (H+ ) within the methyl groups in hexamethylbenzene (C6 (CH3 )6 ) also contribute significantly to the magnetic susceptibility. Starting from below 118 K, as the rotational motion of the methyl groups set in, an associated magnetic moment positive in nature due to charge of the protons renders the susceptibility to become anomalously dependent on temperature. Starting from 20 K, the susceptibility diverges with decreasing temperature indicative of spin-spin interactions between methyl groups aligned in a previously unclassified type of anti-ferromagnetic configuration. Complementary dielectric constant measurements also show the existence of magneto-dielectric coupling. Our findings allow for the study of strongly correlated systems that are based on a species that possesses much slower dynamics.
More Related Videos
10:36Advanced Experimental Methods for Low-temperature Magnetotransport Measurement of Novel Materials
Published on: January 21, 2016
06:53Author Spotlight: Magnetometric Characterization of Intermediates in the Solid-State Electrochemistry of Redox-Active Metal-Organic Frameworks
Published on: June 9, 2023
Related Concept Videos
¹H NMR of Conformationally Flexible Molecules: Variable-Temperature NMR
¹H NMR of Conformationally Flexible Molecules: Temporal Resolution
π Electron Effects on Chemical Shift: Aromatic and Antiaromatic Compounds
π Electron Effects on Chemical Shift: Overview
Structure of Benzene: Molecular Orbital Model
Spin–Spin Coupling Constant: Overview
Qualitatively, any spin plus-half nucleus polarizes the spins of its electrons to the minus-half state. Consequently, the paired electron in the hydrogen–carbon bond must...