Romain Sibille

A Metal–Organic Framework as Attractive Cryogenic Magnetorefrigerant

Magnetocaloric effect: A Gd(III)-based metal-organic framework (MOF) has an unprecedented large magnetocaloric effect around 2u2005K. It was shown to be an interesting magnetorefrigerant for ultralow-temperature applications, because it combines the advantages of molecular materials and the robustness of a framework with strong 3D chemical connections (see figure).

Design of Single-Molecule Magnets: Insufficiency of the Anisotropy Barrier as the Sole Criterion

Determination of the electronic energy spectrum of a trigonal-symmetry mononuclear Yb(3+) single-molecule magnet (SMM) by high-resolution absorption and luminescence spectroscopies reveals that the first excited electronic doublet is placed nearly 500 cm(-1) above the ground one. Fitting of the paramagnetic relaxation times of this SMM to a thermally activated (Orbach) model {τ = τ0 × exp[ΔOrbach/(kBT)]} affords an activation barrier, ΔOrbach, of only 38 cm(-1). This result is incompatible with the spectroscopic observations. Thus, we unambiguously demonstrate, solely on the basis of experimental data, that Orbach relaxation cannot a priori be considered as the main mechanism determining the spin dynamics of SMMs. This study highlights the fact that the general synthetic approach of optimizing SMM behavior by maximization of the anisotropy barrier, intimately linked to the ligand field, as the sole parameter to be tuned, is insufficient because of the complete neglect of the interaction of the magnetic moment of the molecule with its environment. The Orbach mechanism is expected dominant only in the cases in which the energy of the excited ligand field state is below the Debye temperature, which is typically low for molecular crystals and, thus, prevents the use of the anisotropy barrier as a design criterion for the realization of high-temperature SMMs. Therefore, consideration of additional design criteria that address the presence of alternative relaxation processes beyond the traditional double-well picture is required.

Co4(OH)2(C10H16O4)3 metal-organic framework: slow magnetic relaxation in the ordered phase of magnetic chains.

Reported here are the synthesis and structural and topological analysis as well as a magnetic investigation of the new Co(4)(OH)(2)(C(10)H(16)O(4))(3) metal-organic framework. The structural analysis reveals a one-dimensional inorganic subnetwork based on complex chains of cobalt(II) ions in two different oxygen environments. Long alkane dioic acid molecules bridge these inorganic chains together to afford large distances and poor magnetic media between dense spin chains. The thermal dependence of the χT product provides evidence for uncompensated antiferromagnetic interactions within the cobaltous chains. In zero-field, dynamic magnetic susceptibility measurements show slow magnetic relaxation below 5.4 K while both neutron diffraction and heat capacity measurements give evidence of long-range order (LRO) below this temperature. The slow dynamics may originate from the motion of broad domain walls and is characterized by an Arrhenius law with a single energy barrier Δ(τ)/k(B) = 67(1) K for the [10-5000 Hz] frequency range. Moreover, in nonzero dc fields the ac susceptibility signal splits into a low-temperature frequency-dependent peak and a high-temperature frequency-independent peak which strongly shifts to higher temperature upon increasing the bias dc field. Heat capacity measurements have been carried out for various applied field values, and the recorded C(P)(T) data are used for the calculation of the thermal variations of both the adiabatic temperature change ΔT(ad) and magnetic entropy change ΔS(m). The deduced data show a modest magnetocaloric effect at low temperature. Its maximum moves up to higher temperature upon increasing the field variation, in relation with the field-sensibility of the intrachain magnetic correlation length.

From hydrated Ni3(OH)2(C8H4O4)2(H2O)4 to anhydrous Ni2(OH)2(C8H4O4): impact of structural transformations on magnetic properties.

Dehydration of the hybrid compound [Ni3(OH)2(tp)2(H2O)4] (1) upon heating led to the sequential removal of coordinated water molecules to give [Ni3(OH)2(tp)2(H2O)2] (2) at T1 = 433 K and thereafter anhydrous [Ni2(OH)2(tp)] (3) at T2 = 483 K. These two successive structural transformations were thoroughly characterized by powder X-ray diffraction assisted by density functional theory calculations. The crystal structures of the two new compounds 2 and 3 were determined. It was shown that at T1 (433 K) the infinite nickel oxide chains built of the repeating structural unit [Ni3(μ3-OH)2](4+) in 1 collapse and lead to infinite porous layers, forming compound 2. The second transformation at T2 (483 K) gave the expected anhydrous compound 3, which is isostructural with Co2(OH)2(tp). These irreversible transitions directly affect the magnetic behavior of each phase. Hence, 1 was found to be antiferromagnetic at TN = 4.11 K, with metamagnetic behavior with a threshold field Hc of ca. 0.6 T. Compound 2 exhibits canted antiferromagnetism below TN = 3.19 K, and 3 is ferromagnetic below TC = 4.5 K.

Synthesis, ab initio X-ray powder diffraction crystal structure, and magnetic properties of Mn3(OH)2(C6H2O4S)2 metal-organic framework.

A new hydroxythiophenedicarboxylate metal-organic framework based on Mn(II) cations has been obtained by an aqueous two-step procedure including hydrothermal treatment. The structure of Mn(3)(OH)(2)(C(6)H(2)O(4)S)(2) has been determined ab initio from synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction data and consists of infinite inorganic ribbons which are interlinked by 2,5-thiophenedicarboxylate (tdc) molecules (monoclinic, space group P2(1)/c, a = 3.4473(1) Å, b = 19.1287(1) Å, c = 11.0069(1) Å, β = 97.48(1)°, V = 719.65(1) Å(3), and Z = 2). Each ribbon is built of three vertex-sharing chains of edge-sharing MnO(6) octahedrons. These ribbons are bridged together by the carboxylate functions of the tdc molecule to form a pseudo-2D inorganic subnetwork, while this molecule develops in the third dimension to pillar these pseudo-2D layers. An unprecedented hexadentate symmetric bridging mode is adopted by tdc which bridges two chains of a ribbon on one side and two ribbons of a pseudo-2D inorganic subnetwork on the other side. Magnetic measurements suggest that the titled compound is antiferromagnetic below T(N) = 17.7 K. Heat capacity measurements confirm the existence of a magnetic phase transition toward a 3D long-range ordered state. These C(P)(T) data have also been used for the calculation of the thermal variations of both the adiabatic temperature change ΔT(ad) and magnetic entropy change ΔS(m) of the material, namely its magnetocaloric effect.

Magnetism in the (Co1−xFex)2(OH)2(C8H4O4) solid solutions: a combined neutron diffraction and magnetic measurements study

The magnetic properties of the solid solution (Co1−xFex)2(OH)2(C8H4O4) x = 0.25 (1), x = 0.5 (2), x = 0.75 (3), x = 0.88 (4) and of the pure iron compound x = 1.0 (5) (C2/m) were investigated by magnetic susceptibility measurements and neutron diffraction experiments. Magnetic measurements show that the pure iron compound is antiferromagnetic below TN = 65 K. The AC susceptibility vs. temperature curves for the iron-cobalt solid solutions reveal a complicated magnetic behavior. This behavior is discussed with that of the pure cobalt compound which is known for stabilizing several magnetic states as a function of the temperature and of the applied field. These bimetallic compounds were also studied by magnetization vs. applied magnetic field (up to 9 T) and they appear to be a simple way to tune the giant hysteretic effect known for Co2(OH)2(C8H4O4) at low temperature. The neutron diffraction study at 2 K reveals that in the pure iron compound the magnetic moments are aligned along the b axis. Several compositions of the hybrid solid solution were also investigated, the analysis of the data display a reorientation of the magnetic moment directions along the c axis for x < 0.50, as observed in the pure cobalt compound.

Spiral spin-liquid and the emergence of a vortex-like state in MnSc2S4

Spirals and helices are common motifs of long-range order in magnetic solids, and they may also be organized into more complex emergent structures such as magnetic skyrmions and vortices. A new type of spiral state, the spiral spin-liquid, in which spins fluctuate collectively as spirals, has recently been predicted to exist. Here, using neutron scattering techniques, we experimentally prove the existence of a spiral spin-liquid in MnSc2S4 by directly observing the ‘spiral surface’—a continuous surface of spiral propagation vectors in reciprocal space. We elucidate the multi-step ordering behaviour of the spiral spin-liquid, and discover a vortex-like triple-q phase on application of a magnetic field. Our results prove the effectiveness of the J1–J2 Hamiltonian on the diamond lattice as a model for the spiral spin-liquid state in MnSc2S4, and also demonstrate a new way to realize a magnetic vortex lattice through frustrated interactions. A detailed and systematic neutron scattering study uncovers a spiral spin-liquid state in the quantum magnet MnSc2S4.

Crystal structure and phonon softening inCa3Ir4Sn13

We investigated the crystal structure and lattice excitations of the ternary intermetallic stannide Ca3Ir4Sn13 using neutron and x-ray scattering techniques. For T > T* ~ 38 K the x-ray diffraction data can be satisfactorily refined using the space group Pm-3n. Below T* the crystal structure is modulated with a propagation vector of q = (1/2, 1/2, 0). This may arise from a merohedral twinning in which three tetragonal domains overlap to mimic a higher symmetry, or from a doubling of the cubic unit cell. Neutron diffraction and neutron spectroscopy results show that the structural transition at T* is of a second-order, and that it is well described by mean-field theory. Inelastic neutron scattering data point towards a displacive structural transition at T* arising from the softening of a low-energy phonon mode with an energy gap of Delta(120 K) = 1.05 meV. Using density functional theory the soft phonon mode is identified as a breathing mode of the Sn12 icosahedra and is consistent with the thermal ellipsoids of the Sn2 atoms found by single crystal diffraction data.

Magnetic structure and dynamics of a strongly one-dimensional cobalt II metal-organic framework

We investigate the magnetism of the CoII4(OH)2(C10H16O4)3 metal-organic framework, which displays complex inorganic chains separated from each other by distances of 1 to 2 nm and orders at 5.4 K. The zero-field magnetic structure is determined using neutron powder diffraction: it is mainly antiferromagnetic but possesses a ferromagnetic component along the c axis. This magnetic structure persists in presence of a magnetic field. Alternating current susceptibility measurements confirm the existence of a single thermally activated regime over seven decades in frequency (E/kB≈64 K), whereas time-dependent relaxation of the magnetization after saturation in an external field leads to a two times smaller energy barrier. These experiments probe the slow dynamics of domain walls within the chains: we propose that the ac measurements are sensitive to the motion of existing domain walls within the chains, while the magnetization measurements are governed by the creation of domain walls.

Magnetocaloric effect in gadolinium-oxalate framework Gd2(C2O4)3(H2O)6⋅(0⋅6H2O)

Magnetic refrigerants incorporating Gd3+ ions and light organic ligands offer a good balance between isolation of the magnetic centers and their density. We synthesized the framework material Gd2(C2O4)3(H2O)6⋅0.6H2O by a hydrothermal route and characterized its structure. The honeycomb lattice of Gd3+ ions interlinked by oxalate ligands in the (a,c) plane ensures their decoupling in terms of magnetic exchange interactions. This is corroborated by magnetic measurements indicating negligible interactions between the Gd3+ ions in this material. The magnetocaloric effect was evaluated from isothermal magnetization measurements. The maximum entropy change −ΔSMmax reaches 75.9 mJ cm−3 K−1 (around 2 K) for a moderate field change (2 T).