Single-ion magnetic anisotropy and isotropic magnetic couplings in the metal-organic framework Fe2(dobdc)

Inorg Chem. 2013 Aug 19;52(16):9379-89. doi: 10.1021/ic400953e. Epub 2013 Jul 30.

Abstract

The metal-organic framework Fe2(dobdc) (dobdc(4-) = 2,5-dioxido-1,4-benzenedicarboxylate), often referred to as Fe-MOF-74, possesses many interesting properties such as a high selectivity in olefin/paraffin separations. This compound contains open-shell Fe(II) ions with open coordination sites which may have large single-ion magnetic anisotropies, as well as isotropic couplings between the nearest and next nearest neighbor magnetic sites. To complement a previous analysis of experimental data made by considering only isotropic couplings [Bloch et al. Science 2012, 335, 1606], the magnitude of the main magnetic interactions are here assessed with quantum chemical calculations performed on a finite size cluster. It is shown that the single-ion anisotropy is governed by same-spin spin-orbit interactions (i.e., weak crystal-field regime), and that this effect is not negligible compared to the nearest neighbor isotropic couplings. Additional magnetic data reveal a metamagnetic behavior at low temperature. This effect can be attributed to various microscopic interactions, and the most probable scenarios are discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Anisotropy
  • Ferrous Compounds / chemical synthesis
  • Ferrous Compounds / chemistry*
  • Ions / chemistry
  • Magnetic Fields
  • Models, Molecular
  • Phthalic Acids / chemistry*
  • Temperature

Substances

  • Ferrous Compounds
  • Ions
  • Phthalic Acids