New strategy to construct single-ion magnets: a unique Dy@Zn6 cluster exhibiting slow magnetic relaxation

Abstract

Two unique heptanuclear clusters Ln@Zn₆ (Ln = Dy (1), Er (2)) were structurally and magnetically characterized. Each Dy³⁺/Er³⁺ is located in a nona-coordinate D_3h coordination environment, and is encapsulated in a diamagnetic Zn₆ cage. Compound 1 exhibits single-ion magnetic behavior, and is the first example of a single-ion magnet (SIM) constructed through embedding one magnetic anisotropic metal ion into a diamagnetic cage.