Molecular Spin Clusters: New Synthetic Approaches and Neutron Scattering Studies |
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Authors: | Reto Basler Colette Boskovic Dr. Grégory Chaboussant Dr. Hans U. Güdel Prof. Dr. Mark Murrie Dr. Stefan T. Ochsenbein Andreas Sieber |
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Affiliation: | Departement für Chemie und Biochemie Universität Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3000 Bern 9, Switzerland, Fax: (+41) 31 – 631 – 4399 |
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Abstract: | We review our recent work in the field of molecular spin clusters and single-molecule magnets, showing how inelastic neutron scattering (INS) can be used to determine magnetic exchange interactions and anisotropy splittings. A general introduction to neutron scattering precedes selected examples, building upon the first determination of exchange coupling in a transition metal complex using INS, through anisotropic exchange in cobalt(II ) spin clusters to the determination of exchange interactions in a dodecanuclear nickel(II ) wheel. The strength of INS for the accurate determination of anisotropy splittings in single-molecule magnets is revealed. Not only can one determine the axial zero-field splitting parameter D, which plays a key role in single-molecule magnet behavior, but also higher-order terms important in understanding the quantum tunneling behavior. Finally, we review two of our synthetic approaches towards new single-molecule magnets based on nickel, manganese, and iron. |
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Keywords: | exchange interactions inelastic neutron scattering magnetic properties single-molecule magnets spin clusters |
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