Slow magnetic relaxation in a europium(II) complex

• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46196-w
• Publication Date: 2024-04-08T11:02:08Z
• Authors: Dylan Errulat; Katie L. M. Harriman; Diogo A. Gálico; Elvin V. Salerno; Johan van Tol; Akseli Mansikkamäki; Mathieu Rouzières; Stephen Hill; Rodolphe Clérac; Muralee Murugesu
• Keywords: Europium

Abstract Single-ion anisotropy is vital for the observation of Single-Molecule Magnet (SMM) properties (i.e., a slow dynamics magnetization) in lanthanide-based systems. In case europium, occurrence this phenomenon has been inhibited by spin and orbital quantum numbers that give way to J = 0 trivalent state half-filled population 4f orbitals divalent state. Herein, optimizing local crystal field quasi-linear bis(silylamido) Eu II complex, [Eu (N{SiMePh 2 } ) ] SMM described, providing an example europium complex exhibiting relaxation its magnetization. This behavior dominated thermally activated (Orbach-like) mechanism, with effective energy barrier approximately 8 K, determined bulk magnetometry electron paramagnetic resonance. Ab initio calculations confirm second-order spin-orbit coupling effects lead non-negligible axial magnetic anisotropy, splitting ground multiplet into four Kramers doublets, thereby allowing Orbach-like at low temperatures.