Magnetic cooling: a molecular perspective

The magnetocaloriceffect is considered as an energy-efficient and environmentally friendly technique which can take cooling technology to the next level. Apart from its commercial application at room temperature, magnetic refrigeration is an up-and-coming solution for the cryogenic regime, especially as an alternative to He³ systems. Molecular magnets reveal advantageous features for ultra-low cooling which are competitive with intermetallic and lanthanide alloys. Here, we present a guide to the current status of magnetocaloric effect research of molecular magnets with a theoretical background focused on the inverse magnetocaloric effect and an overview of recent results and developments, including the rotating magnetocaloric effect.

A new {Cu3-Gd2} cluster as two-in-one functional material with unique topology acting as a refrigerant as well as adsorbent for cationic dye

A new heterometallic cluster system, [Cu3Gd2(H3btp)2(OAc)6]3H2O {Cu3-Gd2} is designed by employing 1,3-Bis(tris(hydroxymethyl)methylamino)propane (H6btp) as a ligand. The cluster is characterized by FTIR, TGA, PXRD, SCXRD and topological analyses. The crystallography...

Magnetic structure, excitations and short-range order in honeycomb Na2Ni2TeO6

Na₂Ni₂TeO₆has a layered hexagonal structure with a honeycomb lattice constituted by Ni²⁺and a chiral charge distribution of Na⁺that resides between the Ni layers. In the present work, the antiferromagnetic (AFM) transition temperature of Na₂Ni₂TeO₆is confirmed atT_N≈ 27 K, and further, it is found to be robust up to 8 T magnetic field and 1.2 GPa external pressure; and, without any frequency-dependence. Slight deviations from nominal Na-content (up to 5%) does not seem to influence the magnetic transition temperature,T_N. Isothermal magnetization curves remain almost linear up to 13 T. Our analysis of neutron diffraction data shows that the magnetic structure of Na₂Ni₂TeO₆is faithfully described by a model consisting of two phases described by the commensurate wave vectorsk→c,0.500and0.500.5, with an additional short-range order component incorporated in to the latter phase. Consequently, a zig-zag long-range ordered magnetic phase of Ni²⁺results in the compound, mixed with a short-range ordered phase, which is supported by our specific heat data. Theoretical computations based on density functional theory predict predominantly in-plane magnetic exchange interactions that conform to aJ₁-J₂-J₃model with a strongJ₃term. The computationally predicted parameters lead to a reliable estimate forT_Nand the experimentally observed zig-zag magnetic structure. A spin wave excitation in Na₂Ni₂TeO₆atE≈ 5 meV atT= 5 K is mapped out through inelastic neutron scattering experiments, which is reproduced by linear spin wave theory calculations using theJvalues from our computations. Our specific heat data and inelastic neutron scattering data strongly indicate the presence of short-range spin correlations, atT>T_N, stemming from incipient AFM clusters.

Magnetic, Structural and Spectroscopic Properties of Iron(II)-Octacyanoniobate(IV) Crystalline Film Obtained by Ion-Exchange Synthesis

Over recent years, investigations of coordination polymer thin films have been initiated due to their unique properties, which are expected to be strongly enhanced in the thin film form. In this work, a crystalline [Fe^II(H₂O)₂]₂[Nb^IV(CN)₈]∙4H₂O (1) film on a transparent Nafion membrane was obtained, for the first time, via ion-exchange synthesis. The proper film formation and its composition was confirmed with the use of energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and infrared spectroscopy, as well as in situ Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy. The obtained film were also characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and magnetic measurements. The [Fe^II(H₂O)₂]₂[Nb^IV(CN)₈]∙4H₂O film shows a sharp phase transition to a long-range magnetically ordered state at T_c = 40 K. The 1 film is a soft ferromagnet with the coercive field H_c = 1.2 kOe. Compared to the bulk counterpart, a decrease in critical temperature and a significant increase in the coercive field were observed in the films indicating a distinct size effect. The decrease in T_c could also have been related to the possible partial oxidation of Fe^II ions to Fe^III, which could be efficient, due to the large surface of the thin film sample.

Dinuclear molecular magnets with unblocked magnetic connectivity: magnetocaloric effect

A detailed study of the magnetocaloric effect in two isostructural bimetallic compounds {[M^II(H₂O)₂]₂[Nb^IV(CN)₈]·4H₂O}_n (M = Mn, Fe) is presented. The substances show sharp phase transitions to the long-range magnetically ordered state with ferromagnetic coupling between M and Nb sublattices in the case of the Fe-based sample (FeNb, T_c = 43 K) and antiferromagnetic coupling for the Mn-based sample (MnNb, T_c = 50 K). The magnetic entropy change was found to reach 5.07 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹ (9.09 J kg⁻¹ K⁻¹) for MnNb and 4.82 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹ (8.65 J kg⁻¹ K⁻¹) for FeNb under the applied magnetic field change of 5 T. Isothermal entropy changes corresponding to different field changes are demonstrated to collapse on a single master curve, which confirms the magnetic transitions in FeNb and MnNb to be of the second order. The results obtained for FeNb and MnNb are discussed in the context of MCE tunability by un/blocking of magnetic connectivity through dis/reconnection of spatially extended ligands.

The study of magnetocaloric effect in two related bimetallic cyanide-bridged molecular magnets: {[M (H₂O)₂]₂[Nb (CN)₈]·4H₂O}_n (M = Mn, Fe) is presented.

Syntheses, crystal structures and magnetic properties of a series of ZnII2LnIII2 compounds (Ln = Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho and Er): contrasting structural and magnetic features

In the five ZnII2LnIII2 compounds – (i) the Tb^III and Er^III analogues show slow relaxation of the magnetization, while the Ho^III system and, surprisingly, the Dy^III analogue don’t; (ii) the Gd^III system shows the MCE; and (iii) interestingly, the Ln–O bond length increases with the increase of atomic number.

Magnetic and magneto-optical properties of nickel hexacyanoferrate/chromate thin films

We present thin films obtained by “layer by layer” deposition, where Fe/Cr ratio is controlled by the dipping sequence. The goal of our work is the investigation of material properties evolution induced by the change of its chemical composition.

Relaxation and magnetocaloric effect in the Mn12 molecular nanomagnet incorporated into mesoporous silica: a comparative study

Successful incorporation of the Mn₁₂ molecules into silica channels has been attested with AC susceptometry and magnetocaloric effect measurements.

How can [Mo(IV)(CN)6](2-), an apparently octahedral (d)(2) complex, be diamagnetic? Insights from quantum chemical calculations and magnetic susceptibility measurements

Quantum chemical calculations are employed to elucidate the origin of a puzzling diamagnetism for a hexacyanomolybdate(IV) anion, [Mo(CN)6](2-), which was previously reported by Szklarzewicz et al. [Inorg. Chem., 2007, 46, 9531-9533]. The diamagnetism is surprising because for the octahedral (d)(2) complex one would rather expect a (paramagnetic) triplet ground state, clearly favored over a (diamagnetic) singlet state by an exchange interaction between two d electrons in the t2g orbitals. Nevertheless, the present calculations reveal that the minimum energy structure of isolated [Mo(CN)6](2-) is not an octahedron, but a trigonal prism; the latter geometry allows maximization of a σ-donation from the cyanides to the electron-deficient Mo(iv) center. Unlike for the octahedron, for the trigonal prism structure the singlet and triplet spin states are close in energy to within a few kcal mol(-1). Although the actual relative energy of the two spin states turns out to be method-dependent, the complete active space calculations (CASPT2; with the appropriate choice of the IPEA shift parameter) can reproduce the singlet ground state, in agreement with the experimentally observed diamagnetism. Moreover, magnetic measurements reveal a slight increase of the magnetic susceptibility with the increase of temperature from 100 to 300 K, suggesting an admixture of a thermally induced paramagnetism (possibly due to Boltzmann population of the low-energy triplet state) on top of the dominant diamagnetism. Our prediction that the geometry of [Mo(CN)6](2-) should significantly deviate from the ideal octahedron, not only in the gas phase, but also in a periodic DFT model of the crystalline phase, as well as the experimentally confirmed diamagnetic properties, does not agree with the previously reported ideal octahedral structure. We suggest that this crystal structure might have been determined incorrectly (e.g., due to overlooked merohedral twinning or superstructure properties) and it should be re-investigated.

Magnetocaloric effect and critical behaviour in Mn2-pyridazine-[Nb(CN)8] molecular compound under press

A comprehensive study of magnetocaloric effect (MCE) and critical behaviour in the ferrimagnetic Mn2–pyridazine–[Nb(CN)8] molecular magnet under hydrostatic pressure is reported. The pressure-induced structural changes provoke the strengthening of magnetic interaction between Mn and Nb centres. Consequently, an increase of critical temperature Tc is observed from 43 K for a sample at ambient pressure (A) to 52.5 K for a sample under a pressure of 1.19 GPa (AHP). The magnetocaloric effect was determined by the magnetization measurements. The application of a hydrostatic pressure of 1.19 GPa causes a decrease in the maximum value of magnetic entropy change ΔS, which for AHP is equal to 4.63 J mol−1 K−1 (7.73 J kg−1 K−1) at μ0ΔH = 5 T, while for A it is 5.36 J mol−1 K−1 (8.95 J kg−1 K−1) for the same magnetic field change. The temperature-dependent parameter n obtained for AHP, describing the field dependence of MCE, is consistent with other critical exponents determined from magnetization measurements. The critical exponents allow us to classify AHP to the 3D Heisenberg universality class, similar to the case of the non-pressurized sample.

Magnetocaloric effect in M-pyrazole-[Nb(CN)(8)] (M = Ni, Mn) molecular compounds

We report a study of magnetocaloric effect (MCE) in cyanido-bridged {[M(II)(pyrazole)(4)](2)[Nb(IV)(CN)(8)]·4H(2)O}(n) molecular compounds where M = Ni, Mn, pyrazole = C(3)H(4)N(2). The substances show a sharp phase transition to a long range magnetically ordered state, with ferromagnetic coupling between M and Nb sublattices in the case of the Ni-based sample 1 (T(c) = 13.4 K) and ferrimagnetic coupling for the Mn-based sample 2 (T(c) = 23.8 K). The magnetic entropy change ΔS due to applied field change ΔH as a function of temperature was determined by the magnetization and heat capacity measurements. The maximum value of ΔS at μ(0)ΔH = 5 T is 6.1 J mol(-1) K(-1) (5.9 J kg(-1) K(-1)) for 1 at T = 14 K and 6.7 J mol(-1) K(-1) (6.5 J kg(-1) K(-1)) for 2 at T = 25 K. MCE data at different applied fields have been presented as one universal curve, which confirms magnetic transitions in 1 and 2 to be of second order. The temperature dependences of the n exponent characterizing the dependence of ΔS on ΔH have been obtained. The n(T(c)) values, consistent with the shape of the magnetization curves, pointed to the 3D Heisenberg behaviour for 2 and some anisotropy, probably of the XY type, for 1. The (H/T(c))(2/3) dependence of the maximum entropy change has been tested in the ferrimagnetic Mn(2)-L-[Nb(CN)(8)] (L = C(3)H(4)N(2), C(4)H(4)N(2)) series.