Inelastic Neutron Scattering of Lanthanoid Complexes and Single‐Molecule Magnets. Issue 8 (5th February 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dunstan, Maja A.; Mole, Richard A.; Boskovic, Colette
• Other Names: Stride John A. guestEditor.; Queen Wendy L. guestEditor.; Romerosa Antonio guestEditor.
• Is Part Of: European journal of inorganic chemistry. Issue 8(2019)
• Page Start: 1090
• Page End: 1105
• Publication Date: 2019-02-05
• Subjects: Inelastic neutron scatting -- Lanthanoids -- Single‐molecule magnets -- Crystal field splitting -- Exchange coupling -- Magnetic properties; Chemistry, Inorganic -- Periodicals; Organometallic chemistry -- Periodicals; Bioinorganic chemistry -- Periodicals; Solid state chemistry -- Periodicals; 546
• DOI: 10.1002/ejic.201801306
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1434-1948

Abstract

Abstract : Single‐molecule magnets (SMMs) are discrete metal complexes that retain their magnetisation below a certain temperature, with possible applications in quantum information processing, molecular spintronics and high‐density data storage. Complexes of lanthanoid(III) ions have proven highly successful in the field, some exhibiting magnetic hysteresis at liquid nitrogen temperatures. Inelastic neutron scattering (INS), widely used for the study of the crystal field splitting engendered by the coordination environment of metal centres, can afford a wealth of information when applied to the study of these molecular nanomagnets, as the SMM properties arise from the electronic structure of the lanthanoid(III) ions. Although relatively underutilised to date, INS can be employed alongside crystal field analysis, and/or ab initio calculations, to understand how subtle structural changes impact SMM behaviour. In this Minireview we discuss the application of INS to the study of lanthanoid complexes, to elucidate both crystal field splitting and exchange coupling in coupled metal‐radical and metal‐metal SMMs. Abstract : Lanthanoid(III) complexes constitute state‐of‐the‐art single‐molecule magnets (SMMs), exhibiting slow magnetic relaxation and magnetisation quantum tunnelling, which arise from the electronic structure of the lanthanoid(III) ion. Inelastic neutron scattering is a powerful but underutilised technique for elucidating the electronic structure that affords SMM behaviour.