Origin of the single chain magnet behavior of the Co(H2L)(H2O) compound with a 1D structure

The paper is aimed at the elucidation of the main factors responsible for the single-chain magnet behavior of the cobalt(II) disphosphonate compound Co(H2L)(H2O) with a 1D structure. The model takes into account the spin-orbit interaction, the axial component of the octahedral crystal field acting on the ground-state cubic 4T1 terms of the Co(II) ions, the antiferromagnetic exchange interaction between Co(II) ions as well as the difference in the crystallographic positions of these ions. The conditions that favor the single-chain magnet behavior based on spin canting in a 1D chain containing inequivalent Co(II) centers are discussed. The peculiarities of this behavior in chains containing orbitally degenerate ions are revealed. The qualitative explanation of the experimental data is given.