High-frequency Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectra Research Articles

High-frequency EPR spectroscopy of paramagnetic manganese centers in GaAs : Mn crystals

High-frequency electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) is used to study the unique properties of manganese centers in a GaAs : Mn crystal in strong magnetic fields at low temperatures. At frequencies of 94 and 130 GHz, EPR transitions were recorded in the MnGa2+-SH complex, which is a manganese ion with spin S=5/2, which replaces gallium (MnGa2+) and an ionized acceptor (A-) associated via an isotropic antiferromagnetic exchange interaction with a shallow hole (SH) with angular momentum J=3/2. A complex system of energy levels of this complex in a magnetic field and the possibility of accurately determining exchange interactions from EPR spectra are analyzed. Another complex was investigated, in which an ionized acceptor MnGa2+ interacts with a localized hole center in the form of a diamagnetic ion O2- replacing As. This complex, MnGa2+-OAs2-, is characterized by axial symmetry along the <111> axis of the cubic GaAs crystal and an anisotropic EPR spectrum. Due to the high Boltzmann factor, in our studies, the order of the fine structure spin levels of this complex was determined. The effect of the Boltzmann populations of the energy levels on the high-frequency EPR spectra was also demonstrated for the MnGa2+-SH complex. Keywords: high-frequency EPR, GaAs crystal, Mn acceptor, shallow hole, exchange interaction.

High-frequency EPR spectroscopy of paramagnetic manganese centers in GaAs : Mn crystals

High-frequency electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) is used to study the unique properties of manganese centers in a GaAs : Mn crystal in strong magnetic fields at low temperatures. At frequencies of 94 and 130 GHz, EPR transitions were recorded in the MnGa2+-SH complex, which is a manganese ion with spin S=5/2, which replaces gallium (MnGa2+) and an ionized acceptor (A-) associated via an isotropic antiferromagnetic exchange interaction with a shallow hole (SH) with angular momentum J=3/2. A complex system of energy levels of this complex in a magnetic field and the possibility of accurately determining exchange interactions from EPR spectra are analyzed. Another complex was investigated, in which an ionized acceptor MnGa2+ interacts with a localized hole center in the form of a diamagnetic ion O2- replacing As. This complex, MnGa2+-OAs2-, is characterized by axial symmetry along the <111> axis of the cubic GaAs crystal and an anisotropic EPR spectrum. Due to the high Boltzmann factor, in our studies, the order of the fine structure spin levels of this complex was determined. The effect of the Boltzmann populations of the energy levels on the high-frequency EPR spectra was also demonstrated for the MnGa2+-SH complex. Keywords: high-frequency EPR, GaAs crystal, Mn acceptor, shallow hole, exchange interaction.

Высокочастотная ЭПР-спектроскопия парамагнитных центров марганца в кристаллах GaAs : Mn

High-frequency electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) is used to study the unique properties of manganese centers in a GaAs:Mn crystal in strong magnetic fields at low temperatures. At frequencies of 94 and 130 GHz, EPR transitions were recorded in the MnGa2+ - SH complex, which is a manganese ion with spin S = 5/2, which replaces gallium (MnGa2+) and is an ionized acceptor (A–) associated via an isotropic antiferromagnetic exchange interaction with a shallow hole (SH) with angular momentum J = 3/2. A complex system of energy levels of this complex in a magnetic field and the possibility of accurately determining exchange interactions from EPR spectra are analyzed. Another complex was investigated, in which an ionized acceptor MnGa2+ interacts with a localized hole center in the form of a diamagnetic ion O2– replacing As. This complex, MnGa2+-OAs2-, is characterized by axial symmetry along the <111> axis of the cubic GaAs crystal and an anisotropic EPR spectrum. Due to the high Boltzmann factor, in our studies, the order of the fine structure spin levels of this complex was determined. The effect of the Boltzmann populations of the energy levels on the high-frequency EPR spectra was also demonstrated for the MnGa2+- SH complex.

Chemical trend on the lanthanide-radical exchange coupling

From the high-frequency electron paramagnetic resonance spectra on [Ln(hfac)3(TMIO)2] (Ln=Tb, Dy; TMIO=1,1,3,3-tetramethylisoindolin-2-oxyl; hfac=1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoropentane-2,4-dionate) the level-crossing fields of the radical signal of the Tb and Dy complexes were determined to be 21.9(3) and 20(2)T, respectively. The observation of a single signal is consistent with the two-fold molecular symmetry. The coupling constants were evaluated, giving JTb-rad/kB=−4.47(4)K and JDy-rad/kB=−3.2(4)K. Since the exchange coupling constant in [Gd(hfac)3(TMIO)2] has already been determined to be JGd-rad/kB=−12.5(4)K from the magnetic susceptibility measurements, the lanthanide-dependence on |JLn-rad| was concluded as |JGd-rad|>|JTb-rad|>|JDy-rad| in this series.

Metal-Metal Interactions in Trinuclear Copper(II) Complexes [Cu3(RCOO)4(H2TEA)2] and Binuclear [Cu2(RCOO)2(H2TEA)2]. Syntheses and Combined Structural, Magnetic, High-Field Electron Paramagnetic Resonance, and Theoretical Studies.

The trinuclear [Cu3(RCOO)4(H2TEA)2] copper(II) complexes, where RCOO(-) = 2-furoate (1), 2-methoxybenzoate (2), and 3-methoxybenzoate (3, 4), as well as dimeric species [Cu2(H2TEA)2(RCOO)2]·2H2O, have been prepared by adding triethanolamine (H3TEA) at ambient conditions to hydrated Cu(RCOO)2 salts. The newly synthesized complexes have been characterized by elemental analyses, spectroscopic techniques (IR and UV-visible), magnetic susceptibility, single crystal X-ray structure determination and theoretical calculations, using a Difference Dedicated Configuration Interaction approach for the evaluation of magnetic coupling constants. In 1 and 2, the central copper atom lies on an inversion center, while in the polymorphs 3 and 4, the three metal centers are crystallographically independent. The zero-field splitting parameters of the trimeric compounds, D and E, were derived from high-field, high-frequency electron paramagnetic resonance spectra at temperatures ranging from 3 to 290 K and were used for the interpretation of the magnetic data. It was found that the dominant interaction between the terminal and central Cu sites J12 is ferromagnetic in nature in all complexes, even though differences have been found between the symmetrical or quasi-symmetrical complexes 1-3 and non-symmetrical complex 4, while the interaction between the terminal centers, J23, is negligible.

L-Tyrosinatonickel(II) Complex: Synthesis and Structural, Spectroscopic, Magnetic, and Biological Properties of 2{[Ni(l-Tyr)2(bpy)]}·3H2O·CH3OH

The complex 2{[Ni(L-Tyr)2(bpy)]}·3H2O·CH3OH [1, where L-Tyr = L-tyrosine; bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine (2,2'-bpy)] was obtained in crystalline form and characterized by X-ray and spectroscopic (FT-IR, NIR-vis-UV, and HFEPR) and magnetic methods. The complex crystallized in the hexagonal system with a = b = 12.8116(18) Å, c = 30.035(6) Å, and space group P3221. The six-coordination sphere around the Ni(2+) ion is formed by two N and two O L-tyrosinato atoms and completed by two N atoms of the 2,2'-bpy molecule. Neighboring [Ni(L-Tyr)2(bpy)] units are joined via weak hydrogen bonds, which create a helical polymeric chain. The coordinated atoms form a strongly distorted cis-NiN2N2'O2 octahedral chromophore. The solid-state electronic spectrum of complex 1 was analyzed assuming D2h symmetry, and the observed bands were assigned to (3)B1g → (3)Ag, (3)B1g → (3)B3g, (3)B1g → (3)B2g, (3)B1g → (3)B3g, (3)B1g → (3)B1g, and (3)B1g → (3)B2g transitions for the I and II d-d bands, respectively. The crystal-field parameters found for D2h symmetry are Dq = 1066 cm(-1), Ds = 617 cm(-1), Dt = -93 cm(-1), B22 = 7000 cm(-1), and Racah B = 812 cm(-1). Magnetic studies revealed the occurrence of hydrogen-bonded metal pairs. The spin Hamiltonian parameters D = -3.262 cm(-1) and E = -0.1094 cm(-1), determined from high-field, high-frequency electron paramagnetic resonance spectra, together with a weak antiferromagnetic exchange parameter J = -0.477 cm(-1), allowed us to reproduce the powder magnetic susceptibility and field-dependent magnetization of the complex. The biological activity of 1 has been tested by using the Fusarium solani, Penicillium verrucosum, and Aspergillus flavus fungi strains and Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Serratia marcescens, and Bacillus subtilis bacterial strains.

Synthesis, Structure, and Spectroscopic and Magnetic Characterization of [Mn12O12(O2CCH2But)16(MeOH)4]·MeOH, a Mn12 Single-Molecule Magnet with True Axial Symmetry

The synthesis and properties are reported of a rare example of a Mn(12) single-molecule magnet (SMM) in truly axial symmetry (tetragonal, I4). [Mn(12)O(12)(O(2)CCH(2)Bu(t))(16)(MeOH)(4)]·MeOH (3·MeOH) was synthesized by carboxylate substitution on [Mn(12)O(12)(O(2)CMe)(16)(H(2)O)(4)]·2MeCO(2)H·4H(2)O (1). The complex was found to possess an S = 10 ground state, as is typical for the Mn(12) family, and displayed both frequency-dependent out-of-phase AC susceptibility signals and hysteresis loops in single-crystal magnetization vs DC field sweeps. The loops also exhibited quantum tunneling of magnetization steps at periodic field values. Single-crystal, high-frequency electron paramagnetic resonance spectra on 3·MeOH using frequencies up to 360 GHz revealed perceptibly sharper signals than for 1. Moreover, careful studies as a function of the magnetic field orientation did not reveal any satellite peaks, as observed for 1, suggesting that the crystals of 3 are homogeneous and do not contain multiple Mn(12) environments. In the single-crystal (55)Mn NMR spectrum in zero applied field, three well-resolved peaks were observed, which yielded hyperfine and quadrupole splitting at three distinct sites. However, observation of a slight asymmetry in the Mn(4+) peak was detectable, suggesting a possible decrease in the local symmetry of the Mn(4+) site. Spin-lattice (T(1)) relaxation studies were performed on single crystals of 3·MeOH down to 400 mK in an effort to approach the quantum tunneling regime, and fitting of the data using multiple functions was employed. The present work and other recent studies continue to emphasize that the new generation of truly high-symmetry Mn(12) complexes are better models for thorough investigation of the physical properties of SMMs than their predecessors such as 1.

Heterometallic CoIII4FeIII2Schiff Base Complex: Structure, Electron Paramagnetic Resonance, and Alkane Oxidation Catalytic Activity

The heterometallic complex [Co(4)Fe(2)OSae(8)]·4DMF·H(2)O (1) was synthesized by one-pot reaction of cobalt powder with iron chloride in a dimethylformamide solution of salicylidene-2-ethanolamine (H(2)Sae) and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, magnetic measurements, high frequency electron paramagnetic resonance (HF-EPR), and Mössbauer spectroscopies. The exchange coupling in the Fe(III)-Fe(III) pair is of antiferromagnetic behavior with J/hc = -190 cm(-1). The HF-EPR spectra reveal an unusual pattern with a hardly detectable triplet signal of the Fe(III) dimer. The magnitude of D (ca. 13.9 cm(-1)) was found to be much larger than in related dimers. The catalytic investigations disclosed an outstanding activity of 1 toward oxidation of cycloalkanes with hydrogen peroxide, under mild conditions. The most efficient system showed a turnover number (TON) of 3.57 × 10(3) with the concomitant overall yield of 26% for cyclohexane, and 2.28 × 10(3)/46%, respectively, for cyclooctane. A remarkable turnover frequency (TOF) of 1.12 × 10(4) h(-1) (the highest initial rate W(0) = 3.5 × 10(-4) M s(-1)) was achieved in oxidation of cyclohexane. Kinetic experiments and selectivity parameters led to the conclusion that hydroxyl radicals are active (attacking C-H bonds) species. Kinetic and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) data allowed us to assume that the trinuclear heterometallic particle [Co(2)Fe(Sae)(4)](+), originated from 1 in solution, could be responsible for efficient generation of hydroxyl radicals from hydrogen peroxide.

Alloy Formation at the Tetrapod Core/Arm Interface

The nature of the interfacial structure between the core and the arms of a tetrapod quantum dot (QD) formed during the heteroepitaxial growth of a ZnS arm onto a CdSe core is not well understood but can be analyzed through the use of high-frequency electron paramagnetic resonance (HF-EPR) spectroscopy. The spectroscopic resolution at high frequency allows the presence of unique crystal fields reflecting interfacial alloying to be analyzed by incorporating Mn(II) ions as a dopant into the QD to act as an intentional EPR active spectroscopic probe. In addition, the HF-EPR can spectroscopically observe the presence of ion vacancies that are anticipated to form at the heteroepitaxial interface to accommodate structural mismatch. The HF-EPR spectra for Mn(II) are extremely sensitive to perturbations of the microenvironment due to changes in the crystal field. The HF-EPR spectra of Mn(II) in a CdSe (core)/ZnS (arm) tetrapod exhibiting wurtzite symmetry for both core and interface of the tetrapod provide clear evidence of heteroalloying at the core-arm interface and formation of intrinsic dislocations at grain boundaries. The formation of the interfacial alloy and grain boundaries reflects short-range ion migration at the heteroepitaxial layer to reduce strain energy due to the 12% lattice mismatch between the wurtzite lattices of CdSe and ZnS.

Novel Heterometallic Schiff Base Complexes Featuring Unusual Tetranuclear {CoIII2FeIII2(μ-O)6} and Octanuclear {CoIII4FeIII4(μ-O)14} Cores: Direct Synthesis, Crystal Structures, and Magnetic Properties

A one-pot reactions of cobalt powder with iron(II) chloride in dimethylformamide (DMF; 1) or dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO; 2) solutions of polydentate salicylaldimine Schiff base ligands (H(2)L(1), 1; H(4)L(2), 2) based on 2-aminobenzyl alcohol (1) or tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (2), formed in situ, yielded two novel heterometallic complexes, [Co(III)(2)Fe(III)(2)(L(1))(6)]·4DMF (1) and [Co(III)(4)Fe(III)(4)(HL(2))(8)(DMSO)(2)]·18DMSO (2). Crystallographic investigations revealed that the molecular structure of 1 is based on a tetranuclear core, {Co(III)(2)Fe(III)(2)(μ-O)(6)}, with a chainlike metal arrangement, while the structure of 2 represents the first example of a heterometallic octanuclear core, {Co(III)(4)Fe(III)(4)(μ-O)(14)}, with a quite rare manner of metal organization, formed by two pairs of {CoFe(HL(2))(2)} and {CoFe(HL(2))(2)(DMSO)} moieties, which are joined by O bridges of the Schiff base ligands. Variable-temperature (1.8-300 K) magnetic susceptibility measurements showed a decrease of the μ(B) value at low temperature, indicative of antiferromagnetic coupling (J/hc = -32 cm(-1) in 1; J/hc = -20 cm(-1) in 2) between the Fe(III) magnetic centers in both compounds. For 2, three J constants between Fe(III) centers were assumed to be identical. High-frequency electron paramagnetic resonance spectra allowed one to find spin Hamiltonian parameters in the coupled-spin triplet and quintet states of 1 and estimate them in 2. The "outer" and "inner" Fe atoms in 2 appeared separately in the Mössbauer spectra.

Accurate determination of the spin Hamiltonian parameters for Mn 2+ ions in cubic ZnS nanocrystals by multifrequency EPR spectra analysis

Accurate determination of the spin Hamiltonian (SH) parameters, describing the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra of paramagnetic impurity ions in wide band gap semiconductor nanocrystals, is essential for determining their localization and quantum properties. Here we present a procedure, based on publicly available software, for determining with higher accuracy the SH parameters of isolated Mn 2+ impurity ions in small cubic ZnS nanocrystals. The procedure, which can be applied to other cubic II–VI semiconductor nanocrystals as well, is based on the analysis of both low and high frequency EPR spectra with line shape simulation and fitting computing programs, which include the hyperfine forbidden transitions and line broadening effects. The difficulties, limitations and errors which can affect the accuracy in determining some of the SH parameters are also discussed.

CrIII−CrIIIInteractions in Two Alkoxo-Bridged Heterometallic Zn2Cr2Complexes Self-Assembled from Zinc Oxide, Reinecke’s Salt, and Diethanolamine

Two new tetranuclear complexes, [Zn(2)Cr(2)(NCS)(4)(Dea)(2)(HDea)(2)].4DMSO (1; DMSO = dimethyl sulfoxide) and [Zn(2)Cr(2)(NCS)(4)(Dea)(2)(HDea)(2)].2CH(3)CN (2), were prepared from zinc oxide, Reinecke's salt, NH(4)[Cr(NCS)(4)(NH(3))(2)].H(2)O, ammonium thiocyanate, and a nonaqueous solution of diethanolamine (H(2)Dea) in a reaction carried out under open air. Both compounds have similar centrosymmetric crystal structures based on a tetranuclear {Zn(2)Cr(2)(mu(3)-O)(2)(mu-O)(4)} core. Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements of 1 and 2 show weak antiferromagnetic coupling between chromium centers. The magnetic data and high-field, high-frequency electron paramagnetic resonance spectra were analyzed in terms of the spin Hamiltonian H = JS(1).S(2) - j(S(1).S(2) + mu(B)B{g(1)}S(1) + D(Cr){S(z1)(2) - S(1)(S(1) + 1)/3} + E(Cr)(S(x1)(2) - S(y1)(2)) + mu(B)B{g(2)}S(2) + D(Cr){S(z2)(2) - S(2)(S(2) + 1)/3} + E(Cr)(S(x2)(2) - S(y2)(2)) + D(12){S(z1)S(z2) - S(1).S(2)/3} + E(12)(S(x1)S(x2) - S(y1)S(y2)) with J = 13.7 cm(-1), j = 1.1 cm(-1), D(Cr) = 0.3864 cm(-1), E(Cr) = -0.1104 cm(-1), D(12) = -0.1873 cm(-1), and E(12) = -0.0155 cm(-1) for 1 and J = 9.4 cm(-1), j = 0.8 cm(-1), D(Cr) = 0.3564 cm(-1), E(Cr) = -0.0647 cm(-1), D(12) = -0.1850 cm(-1), and E(12) = -0.0112 cm(-1) for 2. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were employed to calculate the zero-field splitting on Cr(3+) ions. Calculations of the exchange integrals J were attempted by using the "broken-symmetry" DFT method.

Pulsed High-Frequency EPR Investigation of Gadolinium-Doped PbZrO3 and PbTiO3

Using a resonator-free setup, pulsed high-frequency (240 GHz) electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) experiments on gadolinium-doped PbTiO3 and PbZrO3 samples have been performed. It could be demonstrated that echo-detected EPR spectra can be recorded routinely from these materials. These compounds are highly absorptive at microwave frequencies, thus preventing the use of microwave resonators at very high frequencies. As echo-detected EPR allows us to record the EPR absorption directly, the effect of relative suppression of broad unstructured spectral components in conventional field-derivative EPR is avoided. The analysis of the high-frequency EPR spectra indicated that Gd3+ ions are additionally also positioned at highly distorted sites. This might indicate that charge compensation leads to the formation of closely correlated Gd3+-VPb′′-Gd3+ defects under high doping conditions in addition to Gd3+ inserted substitutionally at Pb2+ sites with undistorted oxygen and lead neighboring shells. For the orthorhombic low-temperature phase of PbZrO3 two crystallographically inequivalent Pb2+ sites of equal abundance are present. The contribution of Gd3+ inserted substitutionally at these sites could be confirmed.

Thermal Deposition of Intact Tetrairon(III) Single‐Molecule Magnets in High‐Vacuum Conditions

A tetrairon(III) single-molecule magnet is deposited using a thermal evaporation technique in high vacuum. The chemical integrity is demonstrated by time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry on a film deposited on Al foil, while superconducting quantum interference device magnetometry and alternating current susceptometry of a film deposited on a kapton substrate show magnetic properties identical to the pristine powder. High-frequency electron paramagnetic resonance spectra confirm the characteristic behavior for a system with S = 5 and a large Ising-type magnetic anisotropy. All these results indicate that the molecules are not damaged during the deposition procedure keeping intact the single-molecule magnet behavior.

Cationic distribution and electrochemical performance of LiCo 1/3Ni 1/3Mn 1/3O 2 electrodes for lithium-ion batteries

LiCo 1/3Ni 1/3Mn 1/3O 2 oxides with layered crystal structure were prepared from co-precipitated Co,Ni,Mn hydroxide precursors. The synthesis temperature was varied between 850 to 950 °C. The extent of Li +,Ni 2+ disorder between the layers was determined by Rietveld refinement of the structural model, based on the XRD powder diffraction patterns. The cationic distribution in the layers was determined using both conventional (9.23 GHz) and high-frequency electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy (95 GHz and 285 GHz). The high-frequency EPR spectra of LiCo 1/3Ni 1/3Mn 1/3O 2 consisted of two types of signals, which merged into one Lorentzian line at 9.23 GHz. These signals were assigned to Mn 4+ ions having different metal surroundings. It was shown that the value of the g-factor of Mn 4+ was sensitive to the number of Ni 2+ ions included in the first metal coordination sphere of Mn 4+. For oxides prepared at 850 °C, two types of Mn 4+ ions having two distinct environments in respect of the number of Ni 2+ ions were established: Mn 4+ in a Ni-free and Mn 4+ in a Ni-rich environment. On increasing the preparation temperature from 850 to 950 °C, a cationic redistribution process takes place in a way to avoid the contacts between the Ni 2+ and Co 3+ ions. Even at this preparation temperature, the cationic distribution is still non-homogeneous. While the cationic distribution in the layers was changed significantly when the temperature increased from 850 to 950 °CC, the morphology of LiCo 1/3Ni 1/3Mn 1/3O 2 powders underwent a strong change at temperatures above 900 °C. The electrochemical performance of LiCo 1/3Ni 1/3Mn 1/3O 2 was tested in lithium cells using both potentiostatic and galvanostatic modes. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was used to study the cycling stability of LiCo 1/3Ni 1/3Mn 1/3O 2. The best electrochemical performance was established for the oxides prepared at 900 °C. The process of lithium extraction from and insertion into LiCo 1/3Ni 1/3Mn 1/3O 2 was discussed on the basis of ex-situ EPR experiments.

Origin of magnetization tunneling in single-molecule magnets as determined by single-crystal high-frequency EPR

We review an extensive body of single-crystal high-frequency electron paramagnetic resonance (HFEPR) data in order to determine the transverse spin Hamiltonian parameters that control the tunneling of the direction of magnetization in a variety of integer and half-integer-spin single-molecule magnets (SMMs). The SMMs studied are members of the following families: S = 9/2 [Mn 4O 3Cl] 6+; S = 5 [Mn 3NiO 4] 6+; S = 6 [Mn 3ZnO 4] 6+; and S = 4 [Ni 4(OR) 4] 4+. HFEPR spectra for the half-integer S = 9/2 Mn 4 complexes that have C 3 symmetry do not provide measurable evidence for transverse spin Hamiltonian terms. This finding is consistent with the relatively large coercive field seen in the magnetization hysteresis loops for these complexes. On the other hand, a low symmetry S = 9/2 complex exhibits a much faster rate of ground-state magnetization tunneling, in agreement with HFEPR spectra for a powder sample that gives a rhombic zero-field splitting (ZFS) parameter of E = 0.140 cm −1. The S = 5 Mn 3Ni systems exhibit magnetization tunneling that is much faster than seen for the high-symmetry S = 9/2 Mn 4 complexes. This can be attributed to their integer-spin ground states. Like the C 3 symmetry Mn 4 SMMs, the HFEPR spectra for high-symmetry Mn 3Ni complexes do not provide measurable evidence for transverse ZFS terms. However, the spectra exhibit broad peaks, suggesting distributions in the local molecular environments brought about by disordered solvate molecules. This disorder likely explains the fast tunneling in the high-symmetry S = 5 Mn 3Ni systems, though one cannot rule out fourth- (and higher-) order interactions that cannot be detected by HFEPR due to the broad resonances. The one S = 6 Mn 3Zn complex shows an even faster rate of tunneling compared to the isostructural S = 5 Mn 3Ni complex. Finally, the S = 4 [Ni(hmp)(dmb)Cl] 4 complex provides unique insights into the origin of fourth- (and higher-) order interactions found for many SMMs on the basis of analysis using a giant spin Hamiltonian (GSH) approximation. We conclude that the fourth-order anisotropy found for the S = 4 ground state of [Ni(hmp)(dmb)Cl] 4 originates from the second-order ZFS interactions associated with the individual Ni II ions, but only as a result of higher-order processes that occur via S-mixing between the ground state and higher-lying ( S < 4) spin-multiplets. The S-mixing is relatively strong in this system because of comparable exchange and anisotropy energy scales. The relatively fast tunneling is a direct consequence of this S-mixing, as opposed to any intrinsic fourth-order (spin–orbit) anisotropy associated with Ni II.

Disorder and Intermolecular Interactions in a Family of Tetranuclear Ni(II) Complexes Probed by High-Frequency Electron Paramagnetic Resonance

High-frequency electron paramagnetic resonance (HFEPR) data are presented for four closely related tetranuclear Ni(II) complexes, [Ni(hmp)(MeOH)Cl]4.H2O (1a), [Ni(hmp)(MeOH)Br]4.H2O (1b), [Ni(hmp)(EtOH)Cl]4.H2O (2), and [Ni(hmp)(dmb)Cl]4 (3) (where hmp(-) is the anion of 2-hydroxymethylpyridine and dmb is 3,3'-dimethyl-1-butanol), which exhibit magnetic bistability (hysteresis) and fast magnetization tunneling at low temperatures, properties which suggest they are single-molecule magnets (SMMs). The HFEPR spectra confirm spin S = 4 ground states and dominant uniaxial anisotropy (DSz(2), D < 0) for all four complexes, which are the essential ingredients for a SMM. The individual fine structure peaks (due to zero-field splitting) for complexes 1a, 1b, and 2 are rather broad. They also exhibit further (significant) splitting, which can be explained by the fact that there exists two crystallographically distinct Ni 4 sites in the lattices for these complexes, with associated differences in metal-ligand bond lengths and different zero-field splitting (ZFS) parameters. The broad EPR lines, meanwhile, may be attributed to ligand and solvent disorder, which results in additional distributions of microenvironments. In the case of complex 3, there are no solvate molecules in the structure, and only one distinct Ni 4 molecule in the lattice. Consequently, the HFEPR data for complex 3 are extremely sharp. As the temperature of a crystal of complex 3 is decreased, the HFEPR spectrum splits abruptly at approximately 46 K into two patterns with very slightly different ZFS parameters. Heat capacity data suggest that this is caused by a structural transition at 46.6 K. A single-crystal X-ray structure at 12(2) K indicates large thermal parameters on the terminal methyl groups of the dmb (3,3-dimethyl-1-butanol) ligand. Most likely there exists dynamic disorder of parts of the dmb ligand above 46.6 K; an order-disorder structural phase transition at 46.6 K then removes some of the motion. A further decrease in temperature (<6 K) leads to further fine structure splittings for complex 3. This behavior is thought to be due to the onset of short-range magnetic correlations/coherences between molecules caused by weak intermolecular magnetic exchange interactions.

A comparison between high-symmetry Mn12 single-molecule magnets in different ligand/solvent environments

Abstract We present angle-resolved high-frequency electron paramagnetic resonance (HFEPR) data collected for single-crystal samples of deuterated and undeuterated Mn12-acetate. The spectra reveal fine structures associated with the various Mn12 species corresponding to the different local solvent environments proposed by Cornia et al. [A. Cornia, R. Sessoli, L. Sorace, D. Gatteschi, A.L. Barra, C. Daiguebonne, Phys. Rev. Lett. 89 (2002) 257201], and recently confirmed by Hill et al. [S. Hill, R.S. Edwards, S.I. Jones, J.M. North, N.S. Dalal, Phys. Rev. Lett. 90 (2003) 217204] and del Barco et al. [E. del Barco, A.D. Kent, E.M. Rumberger, D.N. Hendrickson, G. Christou, Phys. Rev. Lett. 91 (2003) 047203]. Each of the fine structures exhibits a distinct dependence on the applied field orientation, thereby highlighting the discrete nature of the disorder. We then compare these data with spectra obtained for two recently discovered high-symmetry (S4) analogs of Mn12-Ac, differing only in their ligand and solvent structures. None of the highly reproducible fine-structures seen in the Mn12-Ac samples are found for the new Mn12 complexes, thus confirming the idea that the solvent structure significantly influences the QMT dynamics in Mn12-Ac. Indeed, the HFEPR spectra for Mn12-BrAc and Mn12-tBuAc provide spectacular resolution, allowing for unique spectroscopic insights into high-symmetry giant spin SMMs.

Prediction of high-frequency electron paramagnetic resonance spectra of spin [formula omitted] systems

By the use of the universal EPR simulation program created by the author, spin S = 3 2 and S = 5 2 systems are studied and their simulated EPR spectra at high frequencies (Q-band for 35 GHz and W-band for 95 GHz) are presented here. The mononuclear Fe 3+ in rubredoxin, isolated from Pseudomonas oleovorans (which is an S = 5 2 system with D = 1.76 cm −1 and E D = 0.28 ), is extensively studied by EPR spectrum simulation at the Q-band, W-band, and “Z”-band. The molybdenum- and iron-containing protein (MoFe protein), which has g values at g = 4.32, 3.65, and 2.01 ( S = 3 2 , D = 6.0 cm −1, and E D = 0.055 ) at the X-band, is also studied by EPR spectrum simulation at high frequencies.