Molecular Magnetism and EPR Spectroscopy
Research into the magnetic properties of polymetallic compounds involves David Collison, Eric McInnes and Richard Winpenny. The major achievement of this research has been the design of synthetic routes to decametallic and larger clusters for V(III), Cr(III), Mn(II/III/IV), Fe(III), Co(II/III) and Ni(II), via “conventional” coordination chemistry, solid state thermolysis, solvothermal and hydrolysis routes. The group, especially Eric McInnes and David Collison, has developed the use of EPR spectroscopy as applied to molecular magnets.
Recent key results include:
(i) many very high spin ground state clusters, including the highest spin ground states known for Fe (S =25), Cr (S = 15), Ni (S = 12) and mixed 3d-4f clusters (S = 34).
(ii) the highest nuclearity cages known for V(III), Fe(III), Cr(III), Co(II) and Ni(II)
(iii) many new single molecule magnets, i.e. cages that show slow relaxation of magnetisation
(iv) new phenomena for molecular magnets including very high magnetocaloric effects for high spin clusters, single molecule phonon traps, linked cages for quantum computing, quantum fluctuations of total spin.
This world-leading research is supported by a major £1.1M EPSRC strategic grant to support the synthetic efforts in this area over the next 5 years and to exploit the “critical mass” of expertise. The work is also supported by the European Commission and The Leverhulme Trust.
