December 2024 | The Last Piece to Understand a Frustrated Fe₇ Cartwheel Cluster
In this publication we confirm the postulated SMM behaviour of a frustrated Fe7 compound via low-temperature SQUID magnetometry and Mössbauer spectroscopy. We are furthermore able to confirm the previously reported frustrated spin structure.
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.inorgchem.4c04191

November 2024 | POMs for Cathode-Coating
The cycling performance and stability of Ni-rich NCM851005 cathodes have been enhanced through a polyoxovanadate coating. This approach has shown effectiveness in both liquid- and solid-state batteries, contributing to the development of more durable energy storage solutions.
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/batt.202400601

October 2024 | Effect of Rigidity of Bridging Ligands between Dy(III) ions
Here we report two dinuclear Dy(III) compounds which differ only in their bridging ligands (fluoride vs peroxide). The difluorido-bridged compound is ferromagnetically coupled only shows very weak SMM behaviour whereas the peroxide-bridged compound, owing to its rigidity as a result of the O-O bond, shows dominant antiferromagnetic exchange and good SMM behaviour. The reason for the latter is likely the modulation of the phonon spectrum.
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.202403002

October 2024 | Birthday Symposium
We are celebrating Annie Powells 65^th birthday with a two day symposium on 4f-chemistry in collaboration with the "4f for future"-CRC. Check out more on our website here.

September 2024 | Mononuclear Fe(III)-Spin Crossover
This publication reports the study of the spin state of a mononuclear spin crossover (SCO) compound using SQUID magnetometry and Mössbauer spectroscopy in a collaboration between Addis Adaba (Ethiopia), Kaiserslautern and Karlsruhe. The complex exhibits an abrupt SCO transition and open hysteresis between 125 and 152K.
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1039/D4NJ03532A

August 2024 | Book Chapter – 4f SMMs
In this book chapter we describe the development of 4f-based single molecule magnets since their discovery and the strategies on how to obtain high-performance SMMs highlighting the importance of female scientists in the field. Looking forward challenges and opportunities in this research area are outlined, consisting of designing multifunctional SMM-based materials and the necessary multitechnique approaches to characterise them.
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.hpcre.2024.07.001

May 2024 | Concept Article – Multitechnique Approach on Various Timescales
In this concept article the importance of combining experiments on various timescales from femtoseconds to seconds in order to understand the behaviour of photoexcited SMMs is highlighted and an outlook given on how to advance research in this area.
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.202400977

March 2024 | Efficient MCE in a Gd8 cluster
Here we report an octanuclear gadolinium coordination cluster with essentially uncoupled Gd^III ions. This leads to a very efficient magneto caloric effect (MCE) making this compound a candidate as a molecular magnetic refrigerant.
DOI:https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25010264

February 2024 | Rationalisation of exotic spin structures
In this communication we present a study on a nanoscale saddle-shaped Fe8Dy12 cluster with an exotic nested spin structure including toroidal and spin-ice-like contributions and provide insights into the resulting magnetic behaviour.
DOI:10.1039/d3dt04141g

January 2024 | Polyoxometalate-loaded silica particles
In our new paper, we explore the encapsulation of polyoxometalates in mesoporous silica-nanoparticles and printing them on alkene functionalized surfaces for amine-ene immobilization.
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-50846-2