Molecular Design Guidelines for Large Magnetic Circular Dichroism Intensities in Lanthanide Complexes

Magneto optical devices based on the Faraday effects of lanthanide ion have attracted much attention. Recently, large Faraday effects were found in nano‐sized multinuclear lanthanide complexes. In this study, the Faraday rotation intensities were estimated for lanthanide nitrates Ln^III(NO₃)₃?n H₂O: Ln=Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm) and Eu^III complexes with β‐diketone ligands, using magnetic circular dichroism. Eu ions exhibit the largest Faraday rotation intensity for ⁷F₀→⁵D₁ transitions, and high‐symmetry fields around the Eu ions induce larger Faraday effects. The molecular design for the enhancement of Faraday effects in lanthanide complexes is discussed.