Structural, magnetic and dielectric properties of two novel mixed-valence iron(ii)–iron(iii) metal formate frameworks

Abstract

Two novel mixed-valence iron(II)–iron(III) formate frameworks templated by ethylammonium and diethylammonium cations have been prepared and characterized by DSC, X-ray diffraction and spectroscopic methods. We also report dielectric and magnetic properties of the obtained samples. Both MOFs crystallize in the P1c structure and exhibit magnetic order at 39 K. The analogue with diethylammonium cations undergoes a structural phase transition near 240 K into a triclinic phase. This transition has an order–disorder character and it is associated with pronounced dielectric anomaly. This compound is therefore the second discovered mixed-valence metal formate exhibiting multiferroic properties.