The Separation of the Mn₁₂ Single-Molecule Magnets onto Spherical Silica Nanoparticles

The Mn₁₂ single-molecule magnets (SMMs) could be attached to the surface of spherical silica for the first time with a high probability. This allowed separation of the individual molecular magnets and direct microscopic observation of the SMMs. We described in detail how to fabricate such a composite material. The synthesis procedure proposed here is simple and efficient. We confirmed the efficiency of the method by transmission electron microscopy (TEM): single-molecule magnets were visible at the surface of a silica substrate. Based on TEM observation, we described how the molecules anchor to the surface of silica (the geometry of the magnetic molecule in regard to the surface of the substrate). The SQUID magnetometry showed that single-molecule magnet behaviour is kept intact after grafting. The attachment of the single-molecule magnets to the surface of silica allows to investigate their properties as separate molecules. This is particularly important in the analysis of magnetic properties such as magnetic states of the separated SMMs, their mutual interactions, and the influence of a silica support.