Design of molecular magnets

The conventional magnetic materials used in present-day technology, such as Fe, Fe₂O₃, Cr₂O₃, SmCo₅, Nd₂Fe₁₄B, etc. are all atom-based, whose synthesis requires high-temperature routes. Employing ambient-temperature synthetic organic chemistry, it has become possible to engineer a bulk molecular material with long-range magnetic order, primarily due to the weak nature of intermolecular interactions in it. Typical synthetic approach to design molecule-based magnets consists of choosing molecular precursors, each bearing an unpaired spin, and assembling them in such a way that there is no compensation of spins at the scale of the crystal lattice. Magnetism being a co-operative effect, the spin-spin interaction must extend to all the three dimensions, either through space or through bonds. Specific occurrence of ‘spin delocalisation’ and ‘spin polarisation’ in molecular lattices is helpful in bringing about ferromagnetic interaction by facilitating necessary intermolecular exchange interactions. Since the first successful synthesis of molecular magnets in 1986, a large variety of them have been synthesized, which can be classified on the basis of the chemical nature of the magnetic units involved: organic systems, metal-based systems, hetero-bimetallic assemblies, or mixed organic-inorganic systems. The design of molecular magnets has also opened the doors for the unique possibility of designing polyfunctional molecular materials, such as magnets exhibiting second-order optical nonlinearity, liquid crystalline magnets, or chiral magnets. Solubility of molecular magnets, their low density and biocompatibility are attractive features. Being weakly colored, unlike the opaque classic magnets, possibilities of photomagnetic switching can be envisaged. Persistent efforts continue to design the ever-elusive polymer magnets for applications in industry. While providing a brief overview of the field of molecular magnetism, we highlight some recent developments, with emphasis on a few studies from the author's own lab.