Advanced Fellowship : Novel Single-Molecule Magnets

The use of tripodal alcohols, triazoles and phenolic oximes to construct polymetallic cage complexes of 3d metal ions.

The main aim of the project was the synthesis of high spin molecules and solution-stable single-molecule magnets and their complete magnetochemical characterisation. The investigation of how the structure of a molecule could be distorted in order to examine the effect of chnaging structure has on the magnetic properties of the molecule. To link molecular magnetis into 1-3D arrays. To examine the effects of depositing molecular magnets on surfaces. To make supramolecular assemblies of nanomagnets.

• The best molecular refrigerants ever made and the publication of the recipes required to make nano-coolers.
• The first Single-Molecule Magnet (SMM) to operate above liquid He temperatures.
• The synthesis of an SMM that holds the world record value for the energy barrier for magnetization relaxation for a 3d cage.
• The first direct observation of quantum coherence in SMMs.
• The first magneto-structural correlation for SMMs.
• The first deliberate switching of the magnetic properties of a molecule from anti- to ferromagnetic, enhancing SMM properties three-fold.
• The first combined high pressure crystallography, high pressure magnetism studies of molecular magnets.
• Unprecedented control of the chemistry of polymetallic cluster compounds, e.g. control of size and shape of Mn cages, using derivatized salicylaldoxime ligands and triols.
• The grafting of [Mn6] clusters on gold and HOPG with retention of structure and magnetism.
• Demonstration of the breakdown of the giant-spin model for SMMs.
• Development of high spin isotropic cages as magnetic refrigerants.
• The first ever examples of polymetallic cluster compounds and molecular nanomagnets made in the microwave.