A Dysprosium Metallocene Single‐Molecule Magnet Functioning at the Axial Limit

Abstraction of a chloride ligand from the dysprosium metallocene [(Cp^ttt)₂DyCl] ( 1_Dy Cp^ttt=1,2,4‐tri(tert ‐butyl)cyclopentadienide) by the triethylsilylium cation produces the first base‐free rare‐earth metallocenium cation [(Cp^ttt)₂Dy]⁺ ( 2_Dy ) as a salt of the non‐coordinating [B(C₆F₅)₄]⁻ anion. Magnetic measurements reveal that [ 2_Dy ][B(C₆F₅)₄] is an SMM with a record anisotropy barrier up to 1277 cm⁻¹ (1837 K) in zero field and a record magnetic blocking temperature of 60 K, including hysteresis with coercivity. The exceptional magnetic axiality of 2_Dy is further highlighted by computational studies, which reveal this system to be the first lanthanide SMM in which all low‐lying Kramers doublets correspond to a well‐defined M_J value, with no significant mixing even in the higher doublets.     

Magnetocatalytic Graphene Quantum Dots Janus Micromotors for Bacterial Endotoxin Detection

Magnetocatalytic hybrid Janus micromotors encapsulating phenylboronic acid (PABA) modified graphene quantum dots (GQDs) are described herein as ultrafast sensors for the detection of deadly bacteria endotoxins. A bottom‐up approach was adopted to synthesize an oil‐in‐water emulsion containing the GQDs along with a high loading of platinum and iron oxide nanoparticles on one side of the Janus micromotor body. The two different “active regions” enable highly efficient propulsion in the presence of hydrogen peroxide or magnetic actuation without the addition of a chemical fuel. Fluorescence quenching was observed upon the interaction of GQDs with the target endotoxin (LPS), whereby the PABA tags acted as highly specific recognition receptors of the LPS core polysaccharide region. Such adaptive hybrid operation and highly specific detection hold considerable promise for diverse clinical, agrofood, and biological applications and integration in future lab‐on‐chip technology.