Issue 12, 2017

Transition metal redox switches for reversible “on/off” and “slow/fast” single-molecule magnet behaviour in dysprosium and erbium bis-diamidoferrocene complexes

Abstract

Single-molecule magnets (SMMs) are considered viable candidates for next-generation data storage and quantum computing. Systems featuring switchability of their magnetization dynamics are particularly interesting with respect to accessing more complex logic gates and device architectures. Here we show that transition metal based redox events can be exploited to enable reversible switchability of slow magnetic relaxation of magnetically anisotropic lanthanide ions. Specifically, we report anionic homoleptic bis-diamidoferrocene complexes of Dy3+ (oblate) and Er3+ (prolate) which can be reversibly oxidized by one electron to yield their respective charge neutral redox partners (Dy: [1], 1; Er: [2], 2). Importantly, compounds 1 and 2 are thermally stable which allowed for detailed studies of their magnetization dynamics. We show that the Dy3+[1]/1 system can function as an “on”/“off” or a “slow”/“fast” redox switchable SMM system in the absence or presence of applied dc fields, respectively. The Er3+ based [2]/2 system features “on”/“off” switchability of SMM properties in the presence of applied fields. Results from electrochemical investigations, UV-vis-NIR spectroscopy, and 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy indicate the presence of significant electronic communication between the mixed-valent Fe ions in 1 and 2 in both solution and solid state. This comparative evaluation of redox-switchable magnetization dynamics in low coordinate lanthanide complexes may be used as a potential blueprint toward the development of future switchable magnetic materials.

Graphical abstract: Transition metal redox switches for reversible “on/off” and “slow/fast” single-molecule magnet behaviour in dysprosium and erbium bis-diamidoferrocene complexes

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Edge Article
Submitted
02 Aug 2017
Accepted
01 Oct 2017
First published
02 Oct 2017
This article is Open Access

All publication charges for this article have been paid for by the Royal Society of Chemistry
Creative Commons BY license

Chem. Sci., 2017,8, 8039-8049

Transition metal redox switches for reversible “on/off” and “slow/fast” single-molecule magnet behaviour in dysprosium and erbium bis-diamidoferrocene complexes

C. M. Dickie, A. L. Laughlin, J. D. Wofford, N. S. Bhuvanesh and M. Nippe, Chem. Sci., 2017, 8, 8039 DOI: 10.1039/C7SC03380J

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

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