Magnetic Properties of a Single-Molecule Lanthanide-Transition-Metal Compound Containing 52 Gadolinium and 56 Nickel Atoms

Monodisperse metal clusters provide a unique platform for investigating magnetic exchange within molecular magnets. Herein, the core-shell structure of the monodisperse molecule magnet of [Gd52 Ni56 (IDA)48 (OH)154 (H2 O)38 ]@SiO2 (1 a@SiO2 ) was prepared by encapsulating one high-nuclearity lanthanide-transition-metal compound of [Gd52 Ni56 (IDA)48 (OH)154 (H2 O)38 ]⋅(NO3 )18 ⋅164 H2 O (1) (IDA=iminodiacetate) into one silica nanosphere through a facile one-pot microemulsion method. 1 a@SiO2 was characterized using transmission electron microscopy, N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms, and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. Magnetic investigation of 1 and 1 a revealed J1 =0.25 cm(-1) , J2 =-0.060 cm(-1) , J3 =-0.22 cm(-1) , J4 =-8.63 cm(-1) , g=1.95, and z J=-2.0×10(-3) cm(-1) for 1, and J1 =0.26 cm(-1) , J2 =-0.065 cm(-1) , J3 =-0.23 cm(-1) , J4 =-8.40 cm(-1) g=1.99, and z J=0.000 cm(-1) for 1 a@SiO2 . The z J=0 in 1 a@SiO2 suggests that weak antiferromagnetic coupling between the compounds is shielded by silica nanospheres.