Stefania
Tanase†
*a,
Marco
Evangelisti
b and
L. Jos
de Jongh
*c
aLeiden Institute of Chemistry, Gorlaeus Laboratories, Leiden University, PO Box 95022300 RA, Leiden, The Netherlands
bInstituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Aragón, CSIC–Universidad de Zaragoza, Departamento de Física de la Materia Condensada, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain
cKamerlingh Onnes Laboratory, Leiden Institute of Physics, Leiden University, PO Box 9504, 2300 RA, Leiden, The Netherlands. E-mail: jongh@physics.leidenuniv.nl
First published on 4th July 2011
Two new d–f cyanido-bridged 1D assemblies [RE(pzam)3(H2O)Mo(CN)8]·H2O (RE = Sm(III), Er(III)) were synthesized and their magneto-structural properties have been studied by field-dependent magnetization and specific heat measurements at low temperatures (≥0.3 K). Below ≈ 10 K the ground state of both the Sm(III) and Er(III) ions is found to be a Kramers doublet with effective spin S = 1/2. From analyses of the low-temperature magnetic specific heat and magnetization the exchange coupling between these RE(III) effective spins and the Mo(V) spins S = 1/2 along the structural chains has been determined. It is found to be antiferromagnetic, with J∥/kB = −2.6 K and Ising–Heisenberg symmetry of the interaction (J∥/J⊥ = 0.3) for RE = Sm(III), whereas the compound with RE = Er(III) behaves as a pure XY chain, with J⊥/kB = −1.0 K. For the compound [Sm(pzam)3(H2O)Mo(CN)8]·H2O a small λ-type anomaly in the specific heat is observed at about 0.6 K, which is ascribed to a transition to long-range magnetic ordering induced by weak interchain interactions of dipolar origin. No evidence for 3D interchain magnetic ordering is found in the Er(III) analogue.
As a part of a detailed study of cyanido-bridged complexes with low-dimensional magnetic networks, we have previously shown that a combination of magnetic and low-temperature specific heat measurements advantageously allows a rigorous determination of the exchange interactions between neighbouring metal ions and their correlation to the structure.23–25 In this paper, we extend these studies to two new RE members of this series, namely [RE(pzam)3(H2O)Mo(CN)8]·H2O (RE(III) = Sm 1, Er 2).
Temperature dependent magnetic susceptibility and magnetization measurements were performed with a Quantum Design MPMS-5 5T SQUID magnetometer in the temperature range 1.8–300 K and up to 5 T. Data were corrected for the magnetization of the sample holder and for diamagnetic contributions as estimated from the Pascal constants. The presence of next-nearest neighbour magnetic interactions, i.e.RE(III)–RE(III) or Mo(V)–Mo(V) within the chains has been verified by studying the magnetic properties of the lanthanum diamagnetic derivative.24 In that case, we have found no evidence for a magnetic interaction between the 4d Mo(V) ions via the La(III) ion. It may then also be safely assumed that the magnetic interaction between the 4f RE(III) ions mediated through the Mo(V) ion can be neglected.24
Heat capacity measurements in different magnetic fields were carried out in the range 0.3 K to 25 K with a commercial 3He set-up (PPMS), using the relaxation method. The investigated samples were in the form of polycrystalline powders. The measured specific heat of both complexes has been analyzed in terms of two additive contributions, namely the lattice (phonon) contribution (Cl) and the magnetic contribution (Cm). The phonon contribution can be deduced from the zero-field measurements, in combination with the field-independent part of the high-temperature in-field data (the data for T > 10 K). As explained previously,25Cl is given by a polynomial function above 8 K of which the lowest order (T3) can be interpreted in terms of the Debye model, yielding an estimate of the Debye temperature. By numerical integration of the magnetic heat capacity the magnetic entropy can be obtained, giving a direct determination of the number of spin states involved in the magnetic ordering process and thus the magnetic ground states of the RE(III) ion involved.
The 4f5 electronic configuration of Sm(III) gives 6HJ as the ground term, which splits into six J-multiplets under the spin–orbit interaction and yields the multiplet with J = 5/2 as the ground state. Crystal fields lift the degeneracy of the J-manifolds, giving rise to Kramers doublets, and within the process also states belonging to different J-multiplets become mixed (the so-called crystal field J–Jmixing). Since for Sm(III) the J-multiplets are closely spaced (103 cm−1) as compared to other rare-earth(III) ions, the crystal field J–Jmixing is quite appreciable and thus its effect on the magnetic properties can be profound. As seen in Fig. 1a, the χMT value of 1 measured at 300 K is 1.04 cm3 K mol−1, considerably higher than the theoretical value of 0.46 cm3 K mol−1 calculated on the basis of the free ion approximation taking only the 6H5/2ground state into consideration (J = 5/2, gJ = 2/7 for Sm(III) and S = 1/2 and g = 2 for Mo(V)). It seems likely that the admixtures from the 6H7/2 excited multiplet within the 6H5/2 ground state multiplet are responsible for the observed difference. In fact, spin-relaxation studies performed on several Sm(III) compounds have shown that even small admixtures from the 6H7/2 level produce large effects, i.e. increases in the gSm factors.27,28 When lowering the temperature, the χMT value is seen to decrease smoothly, reaching a minimum value of 0.76 cm3 K mol−1 at ca. 20 K followed by a sharp increase to a value of 1.31 cm3 K mol−1 at 1.8 K. On the basis of literature data, one may expect the J = 5/2 multiplet to be split into three Kramers doublets, the distance of the two excited doublets being of the order of 100 K above the ground doublet. Lowering of the temperature will therefore produce a progressive depopulation of the excited levels and thus a temperature dependence of the χMT product. Based on the specific heat data presented below, we find indeed that at temperatures below ca. 20 K only the lowest Kramers doublet remains thermally populated. In addition, the already mentioned presence of the excited states arising from the J = 7/2 multiplet will entail a temperature-independent contribution to the magnetic susceptibility, i.e. an upward shift of the χMT vs. T curve. The need for including such an additional contribution can be seen when comparing the experimental χMT vs. T curve with the theoretical one based on the expression of χSm as a function of λ reported previously,26 assuming a spin–orbit coupling parameter λ = 210 cm−1, as typical for Sm(III), and the expectedχMT value of 0.38 cm3 K mol−1 for Mo(V) (Fig. 1a). Finally, the abrupt increase in the χMT vs. T curve at low temperature can be attributed to the magnetic exchange interaction between Sm(III) and Mo(V), as will be further discussed below.
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Fig. 1 (a) Temperature dependence of χMT for 1 (○) and χM (•) as measured in a field of 0.1 T. Blue circles represent the calculated product χSmT as a function of λ = 210 cm-1. (b) The temperature dependence of χMT for 2 (○) and χM (•) as measured in a field of 0.1 T. |
Temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility data of 2 are shown in Fig. 1b, likewise as plots of χMT vs. T and χMvs. T. The χMT product measured at 300 K is 11.7 cm3 K mol−1, equal within errors to the expected value of 11.8 cm3 K mol−1 based on the non-interacting free-ion approximations (J = 15/2, gJ = 1/5 for Er(III) and S = 1/2 and g = 2 for Mo(V)). When the temperature is lowered, the χMT product gradually decreases and reaches the value of 6.55 cm3 K mol−1 at 1.8 K. The Er(III) ion with its electron configuration 4f11 has the 4I15/2 ground multiplet. The first excited state 4I13/2 is located at about 6470 cm−1 above the ground state and therefore its contribution to the magnetic susceptibility is only about 1% at room temperature and can be neglected.29,30 In crystal fields of low symmetry, the 16-fold degeneracy of the free ion is removed by the splitting of the ground multiplet in eight Kramers doublets over an energy range of the order of 500 K.31 Consequently, the gradual depopulation of the excited doublets can be held responsible for the observed variation in the χMT product with temperature. When fitting the χM data in the paramagnetic region (T > 50 K) to the Curie–Weiss law, the Curie constant and Curie–Weiss temperature are obtained as 12.2 cm3 K mol−1 and −13.7 K, respectively. The large Curie–Weiss temperature is clearly a result of the strong crystal field effects and should not be attributed to exchange interactions.
To get more insight in the type of magnetic interactions in 1 and 2, the field dependence of the magnetization was recorded at different temperatures in the range 1.8–8 K, as shown in Fig. 2 and 3. For 1, the measured curves are compared to the Brillouin function calculated for the non-interacting ions, with the expected spin S = 1/2 for Mo(V) and an effective spin of S = 1/2 for Sm(III) in view of the specific heat data to be discussed below. In agreement with the field-dependence observed for the magnetic specific heat, we have adopted a powder gSm value of 0.6, which is in the range observed for Sm(III) in sites of low-symmetry.32 The ground multiplet of Sm(III), 6H5/2, is split by a cubic crystal field into a doublet Γ7 and a quartet Γ8.33 In crystal fields of lower symmetry, the quartet Γ8 splits into two Kramer doublets Γ6 and Γ7.33 Experimental determinations of the g-values for Sm(III) compounds have shown that the Γ6 doublet is the ground state for the axial symmetry whilst for lower symmetry, i.e. monoclinic, the ground state is the Γ7 doublet. In most cases, the average g-value is close to 0.6.32 As seen in the Fig. 2, the non-interacting limit describes the data at 8 K rather well. The data at 2 and 4 K show deviations attributable to weak magnetic interactions, to be further discussed below.
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Fig. 2 Field dependence of the magnetization of 1 as measured at 2, 4 and 8 K. Solid lines represent the Brillouin function for non-interacting Sm(III) and Mo(V) ions assuming SSm = 1/2, gSm = 0.6, SMo =1/2, gMo = 2, as calculated for the same temperatures. |
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Fig. 3 (a) Field dependence of the magnetization of 2 as measured at 1.8, 2, 4 and 8 K. (b) Field dependence of the magnetization as measured at 2 K with the contribution above 4 T from excited levels (inset) removed. The solid line represents the calculated Brillouin curve for non-interacting Er(III) and Mo(V) ions assuming SEr = 1/2, gEr = 6.7, SMo =1/2, gMo = 2. |
In the case of complex 2, from the magnetization curve taken at 1.8 K it appears that a field of ca. 3 T is sufficient to reach saturation of the magnetic moment of the Er(III) ground state, since the subsequent slow and nearly linear increase of the magnetization can be attributed to the contributions from the excited levels (Fig. 3a). Indeed, the slope of this high-field part gives χ ≈ 0.28 cm3 mol−1, about equal to the value measured in low fields at T ≈ 30 K. By extrapolating the magnetization M(B) measured at the higher fields (B > 4 T) to B = 0 we obtain the intercept Mtotal ≈ 4.4 Nβ (Fig. 3b). Since Mtotal = MEr + MMo and MMo = 1 Nβ, we obtain an effective powder g value of gpEr ≈ 6.8 for the Er(III) ion when assuming only a lowest Kramers doublet with an effective spin S = 1/2 to be populated at 2 K for Er(III) ion (see the specific heat data below). This value agrees well with the presence of Er(III) in sites of low symmetry.34,35
In Fig. 3b, we show the calculated Brillouin function for non-interacting Er(III) and Mo(V) ions at 1.8 K. The origin of the small deviations observed for the magnetization data measured at 1.8 K (with the high-field contribution of the excited levels subtracted) can likewise be ascribed to weak exchange effects, in this case between Er(III) and Mo(V) ions.
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Fig. 4 (a) Molar heat capacity of 1 as measured in zero field and in constant magnetic fields up to 7 T. Solid curve shows the estimated (field-independent) lattice contribution. (b) Magnetic heat capacity of 1 as obtained by subtracting the lattice contribution (Inset: magnetic entropy curves obtained by integration of the magnetic heat capacity). |
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Fig. 5 (a) Molar heat capacity of 2 as measured in zero field and in constant magnetic fields up to 5 T. Solid curve shows the estimated (field-independent) lattice contribution. (b) Magnetic heat capacity of 2 as obtained by subtracting the lattice contribution (Inset: magnetic entropy curves obtained by integration of the magnetic heat capacity). |
As can be seen from the temperature range of the zero-field Cm data in Fig. 4b and 5b, the magnetic exchange interactions (J) between Sm(III) or Er(III) with Mo(V) are rather weak, in particular for Er(III). Nevertheless, they are clearly discernable in the specific heat, leading to broad anomalies with maxima at 1.4 K and 0.7 K for 1 and 2, respectively. In view of the chain-like crystal packing, these broad anomalies can be ascribed to short-range magnetic correlations along the chains, as typically observed for 1D magnetic systems. In addition, compound 1 is found to display a λ-type peak at TC = 0.60 K under zero-field, which can be attributed to a cooperative transition to a 3D ordered magnetic arrangement resulting from weak interchain interactions. Since no direct superexchange paths connecting magnetic ions in neighbouring chains can be discerned in the crystal structure, such interchain interactions are most likely of dipolar origin and thus quite weak.
The specific type of magnetic exchange interaction (J/kB) along the 1D chains in 1 and 2 is governed by the intrinsic anisotropic properties of the Sm(III) and Er(III) magnetic ground states. Since the shape and the height of the specific heat maximum (Cmax/R) are sensitive to the type of anisotropy, a determination of the type of 1D chain can be done by comparison of the magnetic specific heat anomalies as measured in zero field with theoretical predictions for the various model Hamiltonians (Ising, XY, Heisenberg and intermediate symmetries).36 The observed heights of the specific heat maxima for 1 and 2 are equal to 0.80 R and 0.64 R, respectively, occurring at Tmax ≈ 1.33 K and 0.65 K, respectively. When comparing with the calculations of Blöte36 for magnetic chain models with different symmetry of interaction, it appears that the antiferromagnetic chain model with S = 1/2 and intermediate Ising–Heisenberg symmetry of the interaction provides the best description of the observed anomaly of compound 1 (Fig. 6a). The appropriate spin-Hamiltonian reads:
H = −2 Σ [J⊥{SixSjx + SiySjy} + J‖SizSjz] | (1) |
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Fig. 6 a) Comparison of the zero-field magnetic specific heat anomaly of 1 (taking J∥/kB = −2.6 K) with the prediction for the specific heat of the antiferromagnetic chain model with S = 1/2 and intermediate Ising-Heisenberg symmetry of the interaction (J⊥/J∥ = 0.3). (b) Comparison of the zero-field specific heat maximum of 2 (taking J⊥/kB = 1 K) with the prediction for the specific heat of the magnetic XY chain model with S = ½ (and J∥ = 0). |
The ratio of the exchange constants J⊥ and J∥ found from the fit is J⊥/J∥ = 0.3. From this comparison we estimate a value of the antiferromagnetic exchange interaction of J∥/kB = −2.6 K. On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 6b, the magnetic specific heat of 2 can be fitted quite well to the theoretical prediction36 for the (pure) XY linear chain model (J⊥ ≠ 0, J∥ = 0), leading to |J⊥|/kB = 1.0 K. This planar anisotropy agrees with the symmetry of the g-tensor often observed for Er(III). For instance, EPR studies on different Er(III) compounds have shown that the g-values are highly anisotropic with mostly g∥<g⊥ and an average g-value equal to 7.37–40 Since the symmetry of the interaction can be roughly related to that of the g-tensor by the expression: J///J⊥ ≈ (g///g⊥)2, the strong XY symmetry demonstrated by the specific heat anomaly would be well explained. We remind that for the pure XY model the specific heat is the same for ferro- or antiferromagnetic J⊥ so that the sign of J⊥ remains to be determined.
With regards to the in-field data, a detailed quantitative analysis in terms of these theoretical models is not possible since in the experiment we are not dealing with equal magnetic moments (gS) at all chain sites but with ferrimagnetic chains due to the non-equivalent RE(III) and Mo(V)g-values. In addition, only powder data are available, so that the experimental field-dependent properties are averages over non-equivalent crystallographic directions. Nevertheless, a rough qualitative analysis can be done for the case of the Er(III)–Mo(V) (compound 2), for which the Zeeman energies corresponding to the applied fields of 3 T and 5 T are (relatively) large compared to the exchange interaction. As described previously,25 we can then try to analyze the in-field specific heat data in terms of a mean-field model, in which the total splitting Δtot of each doublet is the addition of the Zeeman splitting, ΔZ = gβBappl due to the applied field Bappl, and the exchange splitting Δex = 2zS|J| due to the exchange interaction J/kBinterpreted in terms of an exchange field:
Bex = 2zS|J⊥|/gβ = Δex/gβ | (2) |
Since for all ions involved S = 1/2, the number of magnetic neighbours along the chain is z = 2 and β/kB ≈ 2/3 × K/T, these formulae reduce to
ΔZ/kB = 2/3 × gBappl | (3) |
Δex/kB = 2|J⊥|/kB | (4) |
Each split doublet will contribute a two-level Schottky anomaly to the specific heat, with different splitting factors gRE and gMo for the ΔZ/kB of RE(III) and Mo(V), whereas Δex/kB ≈ 2 K for |J⊥|/kB ≈ 1 K, independent of the g-value. We show in Fig. 7 the fit for compound 2 for the data collected at 5 T obtained by subtracting an exchange field Bex = −Δex/gβ from the applied field values, corresponding to − 3/7 T for Er(III) taking gEr = 7, i.e. close to the value determined above from the magnetization fit, and to − 3/2 T for Mo(V) (gMo = 2). Keeping in mind that powder data are involved, the agreement obtained appears to be reasonable. The negative sign of Bex implies that the interaction J⊥ is likewise antiferromagnetic for RE = Er(III). A similar analysis for the Sm(III)–Mo(V) (compound 1) is not useful since the condition ΔZ ≪ Δex needed for applying the model is not reached even in highest field due to the larger value of J/kB.
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Fig. 7 Magnetic specific data at 5 T applied field compared to the (sums of the) calculated Schottky anomalies corresponding to the Zeeman splittings ΔEr/kB and ΔMo/kB of the Er(III) and Mo(V) doublets, taking gMo = 2.0, gEr = 7 and applying a correction for the exchange splitting of Δex/kB = 2 K (subtracted from the calculated Zeeman splittings). |
Finally, in order to estimate the effects of the weak interchain coupling (J′), we will assume that, similar as for the previously studied RE(III)–Mo(V) chains, it is of dipolar origin, corresponding to an interaction of strength J′/kB ≈ 0.02 K. To estimate the 3D ordering temperature Tc3d resulting from such an interaction, we adopt the well known36 mean-field formula:
kBTc3d ≈ ξ1d(Tc)J′S2 | (5) |
ξ1d(T) = (1/kBT)exp(J/kBT) | (6) |
Taking J∥/kB = 2.6 K and S = 1/2 one obtains TC3D ≈ 0.6 K, just equal to the experimental value. For the XY chain compound 2, we use instead the prediction for the pure XY chain: ξ1d(T) = J/kBT (again for S = 1/2), leading with |J⊥|/kB = 1 K to the estimate TC3D ≈ 0.07 K, i.e. far below the lowest temperature reached in our specific heat measurements. The fact that the TC3D is so much higher for compound 1 can thus be clearly attributed to the exponential temperature dependence of ξ1d(T) characteristic for an Ising-type chain. This simple argument clearly explains why the presence of 3D ordering was only observed in the case of compound 1, in spite of the close similarities between the two materials in other respects.
Footnote |
† Current Address: Van't Hoff Institute of Molecular Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904,1098 XH, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Fax: +31 (0)20 525 5604; Tel: +31 (0)20 525 6477; E-mail: s.grecea@uva.nl |
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