Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 3, 2025
15:58
Measurement of Coherence Decay in GaMnAs Using Femtosecond Four-wave Mixing
Published on: December 3, 2013
5.9K
Modulating Structural and Electronic Properties of Rare Archimedean and Johnson-Type Mn Cages
Swetanshu Tandon1,2, Friedrich W Steuber1,2, Amal C Kathalikkattil1,2
1School of Chemistry & CRANN Institute, University of Dublin, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland.
Inorganic Chemistry
|June 2, 2021
Summary
Researchers synthesized novel high-nuclearity manganese (Mn) coordination cages using phosphonate and carboxylate ligands. These structures exhibit unique magnetic properties and electrocatalytic water oxidation capabilities.
Area of Science:
- Inorganic Chemistry
- Materials Science
- Magnetochemistry
Background:
- High-nuclearity manganese (Mn) complexes are of significant interest due to their magnetic properties and applications in bioinorganic chemistry and catalysis.
- Controlling the symmetry and structure of these complexes is crucial for tuning their functionalities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize novel high-nuclearity Mn coordination cages by combining phosphonate ligands with sterically hindered carboxylates.
- To investigate the structural, magnetic, and electrocatalytic properties of the synthesized Mn cages.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of {Mn12} and {Mn15} coordination cages using phosphonate and carboxylate ligands.
- Structural characterization using X-ray diffraction, revealing truncated tetrahedral geometry and rare topological features.
- Magnetic property measurements and electrocatalytic hydrogen (H2) evolution reaction (HER) studies.
Main Results:
- Two new high-nuclearity Mn coordination cages, {Mn12} and {Mn15}, were successfully synthesized.
- The cages exhibit structural relationships to truncated tetrahedral geometry and possess unique topological features.
- The structural attributes were found to influence the magnetic properties and electrocatalytic H2O oxidation activity.
Conclusions:
- The strategic combination of phosphonate and hindered carboxylate ligands enables the construction of complex Mn coordination cages.
- The synthesized Mn cages display interesting magnetic behaviors and potential for electrocatalytic applications, particularly in water oxidation.
Related Concept Videos
02:42Valence Bond Theory
9.9K
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...
9.9K
02:58Crystal Field Theory - Octahedral Complexes
28.6K
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...
28.6K
03:02Colors and Magnetism
12.7K
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...
12.7K
02:46Crystal Field Theory - Tetrahedral and Square Planar Complexes
45.7K
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 the dxy,...
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 the dxy,...
45.7K
02:28Electronic Structure of Atoms
26.4K
An atom comprises protons and neutrons, which are contained inside the dense, central core called the nucleus, with electrons present around the nucleus. Taking into account the wave–particle duality of electrons and the uncertainty in position around the nucleus, quantum mechanics provides a more accurate model for the atomic structure. It describes atomic orbitals as the regions around the nucleus where electrons of discrete energy exist, characterized by four quantum...
26.4K
02:32Bonding in Metals
49.7K
Metallic bonds are formed between two metal atoms. A simplified model to describe metallic bonding has been developed by Paul Drüde called the “Electron Sea Model”.
49.7K