Marcus K. Peprah

Pressure-induced enhancement of the magnetic anisotropy in Mn ( N ( CN ) 2 ) 2

Using DC and AC magnetometry, the pressure dependence of the magnetization of the threedimensional antiferromagnetic coordination polymer Mn(N(CN)2)2 was studied up to 12 kbar and down to 8 K. The magnetic transition temperature, Tc, increases dramatically with applied pressure (P), where a change from Tc(P = ambient) = 16:0 K to Tc(P = 12:1 kbar) = 23:5 K was observed. In addition, a marked difference in the magnetic behavior is observed above and below 7.1 kbar. Specifically, for P 7:1 kbar, the behavior is inverted. Additionally, for P > 8:6 kbar, minor hysteresis loops are observed. All of these effects are evidence of the increase of the superexchange interaction and the appearance of an enhanced exchange anisotropy with applied pressure.

MR measurement of alloy magnetic susceptibility: towards developing tissue-susceptibility matched metals.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used to relate structure to function mapped with high-temporal resolution electrophysiological recordings using metal electrodes. Additionally, MRI may be used to guide the placement of electrodes or conductive cannula in the brain. However, the magnetic susceptibility mismatch between implanted metals and surrounding brain tissue can severely distort MR images and spectra, particularly in high magnetic fields. In this study, we present a modified MR method of characterizing the magnetic susceptibility of materials that can be used to develop biocompatible, metal alloys that match the susceptibility of host tissue in order to eliminate MR distortions proximal to the implant. This method was applied at 4.7T and 11.1T to measure the susceptibility of a model solid-solution alloy of Cu and Sn, which is inexpensive but not biocompatible. MR-derived relative susceptibility values of four different compositions of Cu-Sn alloy deviated by less than 3.1% from SQUID magnetometry absolute susceptibility measurements performed up to 7T. These results demonstrate that the magnetic susceptibility varies linearly with atomic percentage in these solid-solution alloys, but are not simply the weighted average of Cu and Sn magnetic susceptibilities. Therefore susceptibility measurements are necessary when developing susceptibility-matched, solid-solution alloys for the elimination of susceptibility artifacts in MR. This MR method does not require any specialized equipment and is free of geometrical constraints, such as sample shape requirements associated with SQUID magnetometry, so the method can be used at all stages of fabrication to guide the development of a susceptibility matched, biocompatible device.

Synergistic photomagnetic effects in coordination polymer heterostructure particles of Hofmann-like Fe(4-phenylpyridine)2[Ni(CN)4]·0.5H2O and K0.4Ni[Cr(CN)6]0.8·nH2O

New nanometer scale heterostructure particles of the two-dimensional Hofmann-like Fe(ii) spin-crossover network, Fe(phpy)2[Ni(CN)4]·0.5H2O {phpy = 4-phenylpyridine}, and the Prussian blue analogue K0.4Ni1.0[Cr(CN)6]0.8·nH2O (NiCr-PBA) have been developed, exhibiting synergistic photomagnetic effects, whereby the LIESST (light-induced electron spin-state trapping) effect in the Hofmann-like material induces a magnetization change in the NiCr-PBA. A variety of microscopic and spectroscopic techniques demonstrate the heterogeneous growth of the NiCr-PBA on the Hofmann seed particles and show the Hofmann compound retains its thermal and photoinduced spin transition properties in the heterostructure. The photoinduced magnetization change in the NiCr-PBA network arises from coupling of the two lattices despite dissimilar structure types. Isothermal magnetization minor hysteresis loop studies at 5 K show light absorption leads to changes in the local anisotropy of NiCr-PBA magnetic domains, providing direct evidence for a general magnetomechanical mechanism of light-switchable magnetism in coordination polymer heterostructures combining a photoactive material with a magnet.

Absolute magnetic susceptibility of rat brain tissue

This study was performed to test the commonly held hypothesis that the absolute magnetic susceptibility of brain tissue is close to that of water since water accounts for over 50% of the tissue composition. In addition, the absolute value of susceptibility of brain tissue is needed for the development of materials that are implanted into or in close proximity to tissue.