Volume 62, Issue 35 e202309073
Research Article

A Paramagnetic Compass Based on Lanthanide Metal-Organic Framework

Hao Jia

Hao Jia

Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190 China

University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049 China

These authors contributed equally to this work.

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Dr. Baipeng Yin

Dr. Baipeng Yin

Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190 China

These authors contributed equally to this work.

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Jiaying Chen

Jiaying Chen

Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190 China

School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510641 China

These authors contributed equally to this work.

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Prof. Ye Zou

Prof. Ye Zou

Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190 China

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Hong Wang

Hong Wang

Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190 China

University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049 China

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Yu Zhang

Yu Zhang

Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190 China

University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049 China

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Prof. Tongmei Ma

Prof. Tongmei Ma

School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510641 China

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Prof. Qiang Shi

Prof. Qiang Shi

Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190 China

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Prof. Jiannian Yao

Prof. Jiannian Yao

Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190 China

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Prof. Shuming Bai

Corresponding Author

Prof. Shuming Bai

Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190 China

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Prof. Chuang Zhang

Corresponding Author

Prof. Chuang Zhang

Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190 China

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First published: 10 July 2023
Citations: 1

Graphical Abstract

Paramagnetic lanthanide metal–organic framework (Ln-MOF) crystals show unexpected compass-like alignments at low fields (∼mT). The magnetic alignments originate from the symmetry-related summation of Ln-ions’ molecular anisotropy, among which the perpendicular, parallel, and inclined alignments can be manipulated and switched by crystal structures and chemical environments.

Abstract

Macroscopic compass-like magnetic alignment at low magnetic fields is natural for ferromagnetic materials but is seldomly observed in paramagnetic materials. Herein, we report a “paramagnetic compass” that magnetically aligns under ∼mT fields based on the single-crystalline framework constructed by lanthanide ions and organic ligands (Ln-MOF). The magnetic alignment is attributed to the Ln-MOF's strong macroscopic anisotropy, where the highly-ordered structure allows the Ln-ions’ molecular anisotropy to be summed according to the crystal symmetry. In tetragonal Ln-MOFs, the alignment is either parallel or perpendicular to the field depending on the easiest axis of the molecular anisotropy. Reversible switching between the two alignments is realized upon the removal and re-adsorption of solvent molecules filled in the framework. When the crystal symmetry is lowered in monoclinic Ln-MOFs, the alignments become even inclined (47°-66°) to the field. These fascinating properties of Ln-MOFs would encourage further explorations of framework materials containing paramagnetic centers.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Data Availability Statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available in the supplementary material of this article.

The full text of this article hosted at iucr.org is unavailable due to technical difficulties.