MONARHEMAN

Molecular Nanomagnets based on Rhenium(IV) and Manganese(III)

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'In the multidisciplinary field of Molecular Magnetism, Single-Molecule Magnets (SMMs) represent the smallest possible magnetic device and hence a molecular bottom-up approach to nanoscale magnetism. SMMs are obtained synthetically by chemists and are studied in depth by physicists and theoreticians, since SMMs can act as an exceptional nano-laboratory for studying (predicted) fundamental quantum magnetic phenomena, including quantum tunneling of the magnetization, quantum phase interference, spin parity effects and quantum coherence. The current record value of the effective energy barrier to magnetization reversal for SMMs based on d-transition metal complexes is 86 K, which was recently obtained by Dr Brechin and co-workers for a hexanuclear Mn(III) complex; this Mn6 molecule exhibiting a spin S=12 ground state. In line with these recent results, we will explore the magnetic exchange interaction between Re(IV) (5d) and Mn(III) (3d) ions in octanuclear Re(IV)2Mn(III)6 systems. The over-arching aim of our research program will therefore be the introduction of the highly anisotropic Rhenium(IV) ion into Mn6 molecules in order to obtain a new energy barrier record value. Given that no Re(IV)-Mn(III) compound has ever been reported, this project is clearly original and timely. Having in mind that systems involving 5d metal ions have been much less explored, we are confident that our research program will provide new insights into the magnetism of molecular cage compounds. Overall, our research proposal, MONARHEMAN, will establish an effective and innovative approach for the development of novel 3d-5d based Single-Molecule Magnets.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Hundreds of advanced devices rely on magnetic materials to do their jobs. EU-funded scientists have now created five novel nanomagnetic compounds that could change the face of quantum information storage.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

A wealth of advanced devices and instrumentation with applications in fields including consumer electronics, biomedicine and manufacturing rely on magnetic materials to do their jobs. Now, the single molecule magnets (SMMs) at the frontiers of discovery could have exciting application in information storage, quantum computing, molecular spintronics and biomedicine.

SMMs display sluggish magnetisation relaxation phenomena reflecting high energy barriers to magnetisation reversal. Magnetisation stability at room temperature is important for data storage and processing.

EU-funded scientists set out to produce SMMs with record energy barrier value supported by EU funding of the project 'Molecular nanomagnets based on rhenium(IV) and manganese(III)' (MONARHEMAN). No compound consisting of these two ions has ever been reported until now. MONARHEMAN prepared and characterised five members of a new family of compounds with these metal ions.

Adding rhenium(IV) as a rhenium chloride complex to cationic manganese complexes yielded two compounds with an increase in energy barrier by almost a third. One of the five compounds is the first salt ever reported in which both cation and anion are nanomagnets. Three of them are the first complexes made of these two ions that show SMM behaviour.

Finally, all these compounds were produced despite the significant associated technical difficulties. The rhenium(IV) ion tends to be unstable in the presence of oxygen (-O2)-containing groups. Scientists have now produced the first such systems of rhenium(IV)-containing compounds including associated -O2 groups.

Scientists have provided five important new model systems to foster discovery related to SMMs. The MONARHEMAN project has made an outstanding contribution to the emerging field of nanomagnetisation phenomena certain to lead to exciting new devices and systems.