Sublimable chloroquinolinate lanthanoid single-ion magnets deposited on ferromagnetic electrodes

A new family of chloroquinolinate lanthanoid complexes of the formula A⁺[Ln(5,7Cl₂q)₄]^-, with Ln = Y³⁺, Tb³⁺ and Dy³⁺ and A⁺ = Na⁺, NEt₄⁺ and K_0.5(NEt₄)_0.5⁺, is studied, both in bulk and as thin films. Several members of the family are found to present single-molecule magnetic behavior in bulk. Interestingly, the sodium salts can be sublimed under high vacuum conditions retaining their molecular structures and magnetic properties. These thermally stable compounds have been deposited on different substrates (Al₂O₃, Au and NiFe). The magnetic properties of these molecular films show the appearance of cusps in the zero-field cooled curves when they are deposited on permalloy (NiFe). This indicates a magnetic blocking caused by the interaction between the single-ion magnet and the ferromagnet. X-ray absorption spectroscopy confirms the formation of hybrid states at the molecule/metal interface.

Determining Key Local Vibrations in the Relaxation of Molecular Spin Qubits and Single-Molecule Magnets

To design molecular spin qubits and nanomagnets operating at high temperatures, there is an urgent need to understand the relationship between vibrations and spin relaxation processes. Herein we develop a simple first-principles methodology to determine the modulation that vibrations exert on spin energy levels. This methodology is applied to [Cu(mnt)₂]^2- (mnt^2- = 1,2-dicyanoethylene-1,2-dithiolate), a highly coherent complex. By theoretically identifying the most relevant vibrational modes, we are able to offer general strategies to chemically design more resilient magnetic molecules, where the energy of the spin states is not coupled to vibrations.

Gas confinement in compartmentalized coordination polymers for highly selective sorption

Discrimination between different gases is an essential aspect for industrial and environmental applications involving sensing and separation. Several classes of porous materials have been used in this context, including zeolites and more recently MOFs. However, to reach high selectivities for the separation of gas mixtures is a challenging task that often requires the understanding of the specific interactions established between the porous framework and the gases. Here we propose an approach to obtain an enhanced selectivity based on the use of compartmentalized coordination polymers, named CCP-1 and CCP-2, which are crystalline materials comprising isolated discrete cavities. These compartmentalized materials are excellent candidates for the selective separation of CO₂ from methane and nitrogen. A complete understanding of the sorption process is accomplished with the use of complementary experimental techniques including X-ray diffraction, adsorption studies, inelastic- and quasi-elastic neutron scattering, magnetic measurements and molecular dynamics calculations.

Phase Transitions in Spin-Crossover Thin Films Probed by Graphene Transport Measurements

Future multifunctional hybrid devices might combine switchable molecules and 2D material-based devices. Spin-crossover compounds are of particular interest in this context since they exhibit bistability and memory effects at room temperature while responding to numerous external stimuli. Atomically thin 2D materials such as graphene attract a lot of attention for their fascinating electrical, optical, and mechanical properties, but also for their reliability for room-temperature operations. Here, we demonstrate that thermally induced spin-state switching of spin-crossover nanoparticle thin films can be monitored through the electrical transport properties of graphene lying underneath the films. Model calculations indicate that the charge carrier scattering mechanism in graphene is sensitive to the spin-state dependence of the relative dielectric constants of the spin-crossover nanoparticles. This graphene sensor approach can be applied to a wide class of (molecular) systems with tunable electronic polarizabilities.

Photomagnetic properties of an Fe(ii) spin-crossover complex of 6-(3,5-diamino-2,4,6-triazinyl)-2,2′-bipyridine and its insertion into 2D and 3D bimetallic oxalate-based networks

The Fe(ii) complex of 6-diaminotriazyl-2,2′-bipyridine shows the LIESST effect and has been used as a countercation of two oxalate-based ferromagnets.

Electric field controllable magnetic coupling of localized spins mediated by itinerant electrons: a toy model

In this paper, we propose a toy model to describe the magnetic coupling between the localized spins mediated by the itinerant electron in partially delocalized mixed-valence (MV) systems.

Molecular spintronics: the role of coordination chemistry

Welcome to this themed issue of Dalton Transactions entitled ‘Molecular spintronics: the role of coordination chemistry’.

Near Room-Temperature Memory Devices Based on Hybrid Spin-Crossover@SiO2 Nanoparticles Coupled to Single-Layer Graphene Nanoelectrodes

The charge transport properties of SCO [Fe(Htrz)2 (trz)](BF4 ) NPs covered with a silica shell placed in between single-layer graphene electrodes are reported. A reproducible thermal hysteresis loop in the conductance above room-temperature is evidenced. This bistability combined with the versatility of graphene represents a promising scenario for a variety of technological applications but also for future sophisticated fundamental studies.

Light-induced decarboxylation in a photo-responsive iron-containing complex based on polyoxometalate and oxalato ligands

A new iron-oxalato polyoxometalate exhibits a remarkable photocoloration effect in the solid state based entirely on an intramolecular process.

A new photoresponsive molecular polyanion in which two Fe(iii) ions are simultaneously coordinated by two [A-α-PW₉O₃₄]^9– polyoxometalate units and two oxalato ligands has been obtained. When irradiated with UV light its potassium salt, 1, exhibits a remarkable photocoloration effect, attributable to the partial reduction of the POM units to give rise to a mixed-valence species. The photoinduced process is intramolecular and involves electron transfer from the oxalato ligands, which partially decompose releasing CO₂, towards the Fe(iii) and the POM. This mechanism has been confirmed by DRS, IR, XPS and Mössbauer spectroscopy, magnetism and elemental analysis. An analogous derivative of 1 containing malonato ligands does not exhibit such photoactive behaviour, which is evidence that the oxalate ligand is essential for the photoactivity of 1. To our knowledge, 1 represents the first POM-based compound in which the photocoloration effect does not require the presence of intermolecular short interactions.

Switching of Slow Magnetic Relaxation Dynamics in Mononuclear Dysprosium(III) Compounds with Charge Density

The symmetry around a Dy ion is recognized to be a crucial parameter dictating magnetization relaxation dynamics. We prepared two similar square-antiprismatic complexes, [Dy(LOMe)2(H2O)2](PF6) (1) and Dy(LOMe)2(NO3) (2), where LOMe = [CpCo{P(O)(O(CH3))2}3], including either two neutral water molecules (1) or an anionic nitrate ligand (2). We demonstrated that in this case relaxation dynamics is dramatically affected by the introduction of a charged ligand, stabilizing the easy axis of magnetization along the nitrate direction. We also showed that the application of either a direct-current field or chemical dilution effectively stops quantum tunneling in the ground state of 2, thereby increasing the relaxation time by over 3 orders of magnitude at 3.5 K.

Single-Crystal-to-Single-Crystal Anion Exchange in a Gadolinium MOF: Incorporation of POMs and [AuCl₄]. Polymers (Basel) 2016;8:E171. [PMID: 30979261 PMCID: PMC6431858 DOI: 10.3390/polym8050171]

The encapsulation of functional molecules inside porous coordination polymers (also known as metal-organic frameworks, MOFs) has become of great interest in recent years at the field of multifunctional materials. In this article, we present a study of the effects of size and charge in the anion exchange process of a Gd based MOF, involving molecular species like polyoxometalates (POMs), and [AuCl₄]-. This post-synthetic modification has been characterized by IR, EDAX, and single crystal diffraction, which have provided unequivocal evidence of the location of the anion molecules in the framework.

Enhanced superconductivity in atomically thin TaS2

The ability to exfoliate layered materials down to the single layer limit has presented the opportunity to understand how a gradual reduction in dimensionality affects the properties of bulk materials. Here we use this top–down approach to address the problem of superconductivity in the two-dimensional limit. The transport properties of electronic devices based on 2H tantalum disulfide flakes of different thicknesses are presented. We observe that superconductivity persists down to the thinnest layer investigated (3.5 nm), and interestingly, we find a pronounced enhancement in the critical temperature from 0.5 to 2.2 K as the layers are thinned down. In addition, we propose a tight-binding model, which allows us to attribute this phenomenon to an enhancement of the effective electron–phonon coupling constant. This work provides evidence that reducing the dimensionality can strengthen superconductivity as opposed to the weakening effect that has been reported in other 2D materials so far.

As a material's thickness decreases towards the atomic-scale, dimensional confinement may promote behaviour not found in the bulk, with potential technological applications. Here, the authors study superconductivity in TaS₂ as it is mechanically exfoliated towards the two-dimensional limit.

High-Quality Metal-Organic Framework Ultrathin Films for Electronically Active Interfaces

Currently available methodologies arguably lack the exquisite control required for producing metal-organic framework (MOF) thin films of sufficient quality for electronic applications. By directing MOF transfer with self-assembled monolayers (SAMs), we achieve very smooth, homogeneous, highly oriented, ultrathin films across millimeter-scale areas that display moderate conductivity likely due to electron hopping. Here, the SAM is key for directing the transfer thereby enlarging the number and nature of the substrates of choice. We have exploited this versatility to evolve from deposition onto standard Si and Au to nonconventional substrates such as ferromagnetic Permalloy. We believe that this strategy might be useful for the integration of MOFs as active interfaces in electronic devices.

Switching the Magnetic Vortex Core in a Single Nanoparticle

Imaging and manipulating the spin structure of nano- and mesoscale magnetic systems is a challenging topic in magnetism, yielding a wide range of spin phenomena such as skyrmions, hedgehog-like spin structures, or vortices. A key example has been provided by the vortex spin texture, which can be addressed in four independent states of magnetization, enabling the development of multibit magnetic storage media. Most of the works devoted to the study of the magnetization reversal mechanisms of the magnetic vortices have been focused on micrometer-size magnetic platelets. Here we report the experimental observation of the vortex state formation and annihilation in individual 25 nm molecular-based magnetic nanoparticles measured by low-temperature variable-field magnetic force microscopy. Interestingly, in these nanoparticles the switching of the vortex core can be induced with very small values of the applied static magnetic field.

SIMPRE1.2: Considering the hyperfine and quadrupolar couplings and the nuclear spin bath decoherence

SIMPRE is a fortran77 code which uses an effective electrostatic model of point charges to predict the magnetic behavior of rare-earth-based mononuclear complexes. In this article, we present SIMPRE1.2, which now takes into account two further phenomena. First, SIMPRE now considers the hyperfine and quadrupolar interactions within the rare-earth ion, resulting in a more complete and realistic set of energy levels and wave functions. Second, and to widen SIMPRE's predictive capabilities regarding potential molecular spin qubits, it now includes a routine that calculates an upper-bound estimate of the decoherence time considering only the dipolar coupling between the electron spin and the surrounding nuclear spin bath. Additionally, SIMPRE now allows the user to introduce the crystal field parameters manually. Thus, we are able to demonstrate the new features using as examples (i) a Gd-based mononuclear complex known for its properties both as a single ion magnet and as a coherent qubit and (ii) an Er-based mononuclear complex. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Alkoxide-intercalated NiFe-layered double hydroxides magnetic nanosheets as efficient water oxidation electrocatalysts

Alkoxide-intercalated NiFe-layered double hydroxides were synthesizedviathe nonaqueous methanolic route. These magnetic nanosheets can be exfoliated in water and exhibit an outstanding behaviour as OER electrocatalysts.

Isostructural compartmentalized spin-crossover coordination polymers for gas confinement

Here we present two Fe^II coordination polymers that possess discrete compartments suitable for CO₂ physisorption despite the lack of permanent channels.

Small-pore driven high capacitance in a hierarchical carbon via carbonization of Ni-MOF-74 at low temperatures

Low temperature carbonization of Ni-MOF-74 yields carbon with high specific capacitance linked to the presence of very small micropores.

Spin-crossover complex encapsulation within a magnetic metal–organic framework

We report the solid-state incorporation of a mononuclear iron(iii) spin-crossover (SCO) complex within the pores of a magnetic metal–organic framework (MOF).

A decacobalt(ii) cluster with triple-sandwich structure obtained by partial reductive hydrolysis of a pentacobalt(ii/iii) Weakley-type polyoxometalate

A new triple-layered decacobalt sandwich polyoxometalate has been obtained by partial reductive hydrolysis of an asymmetric pentacobalt polyoxometalate with hydrazine.

Single ion magnets based on lanthanoid polyoxomolybdate complexes

Organic solubility of these POMs enhances the chemical processability into molecular spintronic devices.

Correction: Alkoxide-intercalated NiFe-layered double hydroxides magnetic nanosheets as efficient water oxidation electrocatalysts

Correction for ‘Alkoxide-intercalated NiFe-layered double hydroxides magnetic nanosheets as efficient water oxidation electrocatalysts’ by Jose A. Carrasco, et al., Inorg. Chem. Front., 2016, DOI: 10.1039/c6qi00009f.

A Mononuclear Uranium(IV) Single-Molecule Magnet with an Azobenzene Radical Ligand

A tetravalent uranium compound with a radical azobenzene ligand, namely, [{(SiMe2 NPh)3 -tacn}U(IV) (η(2) -N2 Ph2 (.) )] (2), was obtained by one-electron reduction of azobenzene by the trivalent uranium compound [U(III) {(SiMe2 NPh)3 -tacn}] (1). Compound 2 was characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and (1) H NMR, IR, and UV/Vis/NIR spectroscopy. The magnetic properties of 2 and precursor 1 were studied by static magnetization and ac susceptibility measurements, which for the former revealed single-molecule magnet behaviour for the first time in a mononuclear U(IV) compound, whereas trivalent uranium compound 1 does not exhibit slow relaxation of the magnetization at low temperatures. A first approximation to the magnetic behaviour of these compounds was attempted by combining an effective electrostatic model with a phenomenological approach using the full single-ion Hamiltonian.

Modeling the magnetic properties of lanthanide complexes: relationship of the REC parameters with Pauling electronegativity and coordination number

In a previous study, we introduced the Radial Effective Charge (REC) model to study the magnetic properties of lanthanide single ion magnets. Now, we perform an empirical determination of the effective charges (Zi) and radial displacements (Dr) of this model using spectroscopic data. This systematic study allows us to relate Dr and Zi with chemical factors such as the coordination number and the electronegativities of the metal and the donor atoms. This strategy is being used to drastically reduce the number of free parameters in the modeling of the magnetic and spectroscopic properties of f-element complexes.

Unravelling the chemical design of spin-crossover nanoparticles based on iron(ii)-triazole coordination polymers: towards a control of the spin transition

A systematic study of the key synthetic parameters that control the growth of spin-crossover (SCO) nanoparticles (NPs) using the reverse micelle technique has been undertaken in the system [Fe(Htrz)2(trz)](BF4)·H2O, (Htrz = 1,2,4-triazole). This has permitted us to modulate the physical properties of the NPs in a controlled and reproducible manner. In particular, a control over the size of the NPs (in the range 4 to 16 nm) has been achieved by varying the water to surfactant molar ratio. The consequences of this size variation on the cooperativity of the spin transition are discussed. Finally, this approach has been extended to the chemical alloy [Fe(Htrz)2.95(NH2trz)0.05](ClO4)2 in order to prepare NPs exhibiting a cooperative and hysteretic spin transition centred closer to room temperature.

Intramolecular Proton Transfer Boosts Water Oxidation Catalyzed by a Ru Complex

We introduce a new family of complexes with the general formula [Ru(n)(tda)(py)2](m+) (n = 2, m = 0, 1; n = 3, m = 1, 2(+); n = 4, m = 2, 3(2+)), with tda(2-) being [2,2':6',2″-terpyridine]-6,6″-dicarboxylate, including complex [Ru(IV)(OH)(tda-κ-N(3)O)(py)2](+), 4H(+), which we find to be an impressive water oxidation catalyst, formed by hydroxo coordination to 3(2+) under basic conditions. The complexes are synthesized, isolated, and thoroughly characterized by analytical, spectroscopic (UV-vis, nuclear magnetic resonance, electron paramagnetic resonance), computational, and electrochemical techniques (cyclic voltammetry, differential pulse voltammetry, coulometry), including solid-state monocrystal X-ray diffraction analysis. In oxidation state IV, the Ru center is seven-coordinated and diamagnetic, whereas in oxidation state II, the complex has an unbonded dangling carboxylate and is six-coordinated while still diamagnetic. With oxidation state III, the coordination number is halfway between the coordination of oxidation states II and IV. Species generated in situ have also been characterized by spectroscopic, computational, and electrochemical techniques, together with the related species derived from a different degree of protonation and oxidation states. 4H(+) can be generated potentiometrically, or voltammetrically, from 3(2+), and both coexist in solution. While complex 3(2+) is not catalytically active, the catalytic performance of complex 4H(+) is characterized by the foot of the wave analysis, giving an impressive turnover frequency record of 8000 s(-1) at pH 7.0 and 50 000 s(-1) at pH 10.0. Density functional theory calculations provide a complete description of the water oxidation catalytic cycle of 4H(+), manifesting the key functional role of the dangling carboxylate in lowering the activation free energies that lead to O-O bond formation.

Layered gadolinium hydroxides for low-temperature magnetic cooling

A 2D gadolinium hydroxide with a large magnetocaloric effect is an excellent candidate for cryogenic magnetic refrigeration.

Layered gadolinium hydroxides have revealed to be excellent candidates for cryogenic magnetic refrigeration. These materials behave as pure 2D magnetic systems with a Heisenberg–Ising critical crossover, induced by dipolar interactions. This 2D character and the possibility offered by these materials to be delaminated open the possibility of rapid heat dissipation upon substrate deposition.

Graphene related magnetic materials: micromechanical exfoliation of 2D layered magnets based on bimetallic anilate complexes with inserted [FeIII(acac2-trien)]+ and [FeIII(sal2-trien)]+ molecules

The syntheses, structures and magnetic properties of the coordination compounds of formula [FeIII(acac2-trien)][MnIICrIII(Cl2 An)3]·(CH3CN)2 (1), [FeIII(acac2-trien)][MnIICrIII(Br2An)3]·(CH3CN)2 (2) and [GaIII(acac2-trien)][MnIICrIII(Br2An)3]·(CH3CN)2 (3) are reported. They exhibit a 2D anionic network formed by Mn(ii) and Cr(iii) ions linked through anilate ligands, while the [FeIII(acac2-trien)]+ or [GaIII(acac2-trien)]+ charge-compensating cations are placed inside the hexagonal channels of the 2D network, instead of being inserted in the interlamellar spacing. Thus, these crystals are formed by hybrid layers assembled through van der Waals interactions. The magnetic properties indicate that these compounds behave as magnets exhibiting a long-range ferrimagnetic ordering at ca. 11 K, while the inserted Fe(iii) cations remain in the high-spin state. As for graphene, these layered materials can be exfoliated in atomically-thin layers with heights down to 2 nm by using the well-known Scotch tape method. Hence, this micromechanical procedure provides a suitable way to isolate ultrathin layers of this kind of graphene related magnetic materials. Interestingly, this method can also be successfully used to exfoliate the 2D anilate-based compound [FeIII(sal2-trien)][MnIICrIII(Cl2An)3]·solv (4), which exhibits the typical alternated cation/anion layered structure. This result shows that the micromechanical exfoliation method, which has been extensively used for exfoliating van der Waals layered solids, can also be useful for exfoliating layered coordination compounds, even when they are formed by ionic components.

Current rectification in a single molecule diode: the role of electrode coupling

We demonstrate large rectification ratios (> 100) in single-molecule junctions based on a metal-oxide cluster (polyoxometalate), using a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) both at ambient conditions and at low temperature. These rectification ratios are the largest ever observed in a single-molecule junction, and in addition these junctions sustain current densities larger than 10(5) A cm(-2). By following the variation of the I-V characteristics with tip-molecule separation we demonstrate unambiguously that rectification is due to asymmetric coupling to the electrodes of a molecule with an asymmetric level structure. This mechanism can be implemented in other type of molecular junctions using both organic and inorganic molecules and provides a simple strategy for the rational design of molecular diodes.

Hybrid Materials Based on Magnetic Layered Double Hydroxides: A Molecular Perspective

Design of functional hybrids lies at the very core of synthetic chemistry as it has enabled the development of an unlimited number of solids displaying unprecedented or even improved properties built upon the association at the molecular level of quite disparate components by chemical design. Multifunctional hybrids are a particularly appealing case among hybrid organic/inorganic materials. Here, chemical knowledge is used to deploy molecular components bearing different functionalities within a single solid so that these properties can coexist or event interact leading to unprecedented phenomena. From a molecular perspective, this can be done either by controlled assembly of organic/inorganic molecular tectons into an extended architecture of hybrid nature or by intercalation of organic moieties within the empty channels or interlamellar space offered by inorganic solids with three-dimensional (MOFs, zeolites, and mesoporous hosts) or layered structures (phosphates, silicates, metal dichalcogenides, or anionic clays). This Account specifically illustrates the use of layered double hydroxides (LDHs) in the preparation of magnetic hybrids, in line with the development of soft inorganic chemistry processes (also called "Chimie Douce"), which has significantly contributed to boost the preparation hybrid materials based on solid-state hosts and subsequent development of applications. Several features sustain the importance of LDHs in this context. Their magnetism can be manipulated at a molecular level by adequate choice of constituting metals and interlayer separation for tuning the nature and extent of magnetic interactions across and between planes. They display unparalleled versatility in accommodating a broad range of anionic species in their interlamellar space that encompasses not only simple anions but chemical systems of increasing dimensionality and functionalities. Their swelling characteristics allow for their exfoliation in organic solvents with high dielectric strength, to produce two-dimensional nanosheets with atomic thickness that can be used as macromolecular building blocks in the assembly of nanocomposites. We describe how these advantageous properties turn LDHs into excellent vehicles for the preparation of multifunctional materials with increasing levels of complexity. For clarity, the reader will first find a succinct description of the most relevant aspects controlling the magnetism of LDHs followed by their use in the preparation of magnetic hybrids from a molecular perspective. This includes the intercalation anionic species of increasing nuclearity like paramagnetic mononuclear complexes, stimulus-responsive molecular guests, one- and two-dimensional coordination polymers, or even preassembled 2D networks. This approach allows us to evolve from "dual-function" materials with coexistence, for example, of magnetism and superconductivity, to smart materials in which the magnetic or structural properties of the LDH layers can be tuned by applying an external stimulus like light or temperature. We will conclude with a brief look into the promising features offered by magnetic nanocomposites based on LDHs and our views on the most promising directions to be pursued in this context.

Self-assembled monolayers on a ferromagnetic permalloy surface

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) are nowadays broadly used as surface protectors or modifiers and play a key role in many technological applications. This has motivated the study of their formation in all kind of materials; however, and despite the current interest in molecular spintronics, the study of SAMs on ferromagnetic surfaces remains almost unexplored. In this paper, we report for the first time a methodology for the formation of SAMs of n-alkylphosphonic acids on permalloy in ambient conditions. The formed monolayers have been fully characterized by means of contact angle measurements, atomic force microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry, infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy, and X-ray reflectometry. Additionally, the magnetic stability of the modified permalloy after the solution process required for the SAM formation has been confirmed by magneto-optical Kerr effect magnetometry. Moreover, by means of microcontact printing lithography, very accurate SAM patterns have been transferred onto permalloy surfaces and used as resist mask in a chemical etching process giving rise to submicrometric permalloy surface patterns with potential interest in nanomagnetism, spintronics, and storage technologies.

Does the thermal evolution of molecular structures critically affect the magnetic anisotropy?

In the absence of a critical phase transition, one can safely use the crystal structure information determined at liquid nitrogen temperature in magnetic anisotropy research.

A dysprosium based single-ion magnet is synthesized and characterized by the angular dependence of the single-crystal magnetic susceptibility. Ab initio and effective electrostatic analyses are performed using the molecular structures determined from single crystal X-ray diffraction at 20 K, 100 K and 300 K. Contrary to the common assumption, the results reveal that the structural thermal effects that may affect the energy level scheme and magnetic anisotropy below 100 K are negligible.

Spin switching in electronic devices based on 2D assemblies of spin-crossover nanoparticles

Two-dimensional assemblies of triazole-based spin-crossover nanoparticles (SCO NPs) presenting different morphologies are prepared and electrically characterized. The thermal hysteresis loop in the electrical conductance near room temperature correlates with the NP morphologies and their 2D organization. The unprecedentedly large difference - up to two orders of magnitude - in the electrical conductance of the two spin states is of interest for applications.

Molecular spin qubits based on lanthanide ions encapsulated in cubic polyoxopalladates: design criteria to enhance quantum coherence

Axial compression and a magnetic field can help to get coherent spin qubits.

Stimuli-responsive hybrid materials: breathing in magnetic layered double hydroxides induced by a thermoresponsive molecule

A hybrid magnetic multilayer material consisting of CoAl–LDH ferromagnetic layers intercalated with thermoresponsive molecules diluted with a flexible surfactant has been obtained.

A hybrid magnetic multilayer material of micrometric size, with highly crystalline hexagonal crystals consisting of CoAl–LDH ferromagnetic layers intercalated with thermoresponsive 4-(4-anilinophenylazo)benzenesulfonate (AO5) molecules diluted (ratio 9 : 1) with a flexible sodium dodecylsulphate (SDS) surfactant has been obtained. The resulting material exhibits thermochromism attributable to the isomerization between the azo (prevalent at room temperature) and the hydrazone (favoured at higher temperatures) tautomers, leading to a thermomechanical response. In fact, these crystals exhibited thermally induced motion triggering remarkable changes in the crystal morphology and volume. In situ variable temperature XRD of these thin hybrids shows that the reversible change into the two tautomers is reflected in a shift of the position of the diffraction peaks at high temperatures towards lower interlayer spacing for the hydrazone form, as well as a broadening of the peaks reflecting lower crystallinity and ordering due to non-uniform spacing between the layers. These structural variations between room temperature (basal spacing (BS) = 25.91 Å) and 100 °C (BS = 25.05 Å) are also reflected in the magnetic properties of the layered double hydroxide (LDH) due to the variation of the magnetic coupling between the layers. Overall, our study constitutes one of the few examples showing fully reversible thermo-responsive breathing in a 2D hybrid material. In addition, the magnetic response of the hybrid can be modulated due to the thermotropism of the organic component that, by influencing the distance and in-plane correlation of the inorganic LDH, modulates the magnetism of the CoAl–LDH sheets in a certain range.