Spin state and magnetic coupling in polynuclear Ni(II) complexes from density functional theory: is there an optimal amount of Fock exchange?

Reliable prediction of the ground-state spin and magnetic coupling constants in transition-metal complexes is a well-known challenge for density functional theory (DFT). One popular strategy for addressing this long-standing issue involves the modification of the fraction of Fock exchange in a hybrid functional. Here we explore the viability of this approach using three polynuclear metal-organic complexes based on a Ni4O4 cubane motif, having different ground state spin values (S = 0, 2, 4) owing to the use of different ligands. We systematically search for an optimum fraction of Fock exchange, across various global, range-separated, and double hybrid functionals. We find that for all functionals tested, at best there only exists a very narrow range of Fock exchange fractions which results in a correct prediction of the ground-state spin for all three complexes. The useful range is functional dependent, but general trends can be identified. Typically, at least two similar systems must be used in order to determine both an upper and lower limit of the optimal range. This is likely owing to conflicting demands of minimizing delocalization errors, which typically requires a higher percentage of Fock exchange, and addressing static correlation, which typically requires a lower one. Furthermore, we find that within the optimal range of Fock exchange, the sign and relative magnitude of Ni-Ni magnetic coupling constants are reasonably well reproduced, but there is still room for quantitative improvement in the prediction. Thus, the prediction of spin state and magnetic coupling in polynuclear complexes remains an ongoing challenge for DFT.

Theory of Chirality Induced Spin Selectivity: Progress and Challenges.

A critical overview of the theory of the chirality-induced spin selectivity (CISS) effect, that is, phenomena in which the chirality of molecular species imparts significant spin selectivity to various electron processes, is provided. Based on discussions in a recently held workshop, and further work published since, the status of CISS effects-in electron transmission, electron transport, and chemical reactions-is reviewed. For each, a detailed discussion of the state-of-the-art in theoretical understanding is provided and remaining challenges and research opportunities are identified.

Long-Range Spin-Selective Transport in Chiral Metal-Organic Crystals with Temperature-Activated Magnetization.

Room-temperature, long-range (300 nm), chirality-induced spin-selective electron conduction is found in chiral metal-organic Cu(II) phenylalanine crystals, using magnetic conductive-probe atomic force microscopy. These crystals are found to be also weakly ferromagnetic and ferroelectric. Notably, the observed ferromagnetism is thermally activated, so that the crystals are antiferromagnetic at low temperatures and become ferromagnetic above ∼50 K. Electron paramagnetic resonance measurements and density functional theory calculations suggest that these unusual magnetic properties result from indirect exchange interaction of the Cu(II) ions through the chiral lattice.

Accurate Magnetic Couplings in Chromium-Based Molecular Rings from Broken-Symmetry Calculations within Density Functional Theory.

We present a comprehensive analysis of magnetic coupling in a group of three popular chromium-based molecular rings, the homometallic Cr8 ring and the heterometallic Cr7Ni and Cr7Zn molecules. We show conclusively that the broken symmetry approach within density functional theory (DFT), based on suitable conventional or range-separated hybrid functionals, provides a quantitatively reliable tool to extract magnetic exchange coupling parameters in all rings considered, which opens a window for additional applications in molecular magnetism. We further show that a nonempirical model spin Hamiltonian, based on the parameters extracted from DFT, leads to excellent agreement with experimental susceptibility data and energy spectra. Moreover, based on an optimally tuned range-separated hybrid functional approach, we find that gas-phase gaps of the studied molecular rings are much larger than previously calculated and discuss the implications of the revised electronic structure to potential applications in molecular spintronics.

Synthesis and magneto-structural studies on a new family of carbonato bridged 3d-4f complexes featuring a [CoLn(CO3)] (Ln = La, Gd, Tb, Dy and Ho) core: slow magnetic relaxation displayed by the cobalt(ii)-dysprosium(iii) analogue.

A new family of [3 + 3] hexanuclear 3d-4f complexes [(µ3-CO3){CoIILnIIIL(µ3-OH)(OH2)}3]-(ClO4)·mC2H5OH·nH2O (1-5) [Ln = La (1), Gd (2), Tb (3), Dy (4), and Ho (5)] have been prepared in moderate to high yields (62-78%) following a self-assembly reaction between the ligand 6,6',6''-(nitrilotris(methylene))tris-(2-methoxy-4-methylphenol) (H3L), Co(OAc)2·4H2O and the lanthanide ion precursors in the mandatory presence of tetrabutylammonium hydroxide. During the reaction, atmospheric carbon dioxide is fixed in the product molecule as a bridging carbonato ligand which connects all the three lanthanide centers of this molecular assembly through a rare η2:η2:η2-µ3 mode of bridging as revealed from X-ray crystallography. The metal centers in all these compounds, except the GdIII analogue (2), are coupled in antiferromagnetic manner while the nature of coupling in the CoGd complex is ferromagnetic. DFT calculations revealed that this ferromagnetic interaction occurs most likely by the CoII-GdIII superexchange, mediated via the bridging oxygen atoms. Only the CoII-DyIII compound (4) displayed a slow relaxation of the magnetization at a very low temperature as established by AC susceptibility measurements. The data provides an estimation of the activation energy U/kB = 9.2 K and the relaxation time constant τ0 = 1.0 × 10-7 s.

A classification of spin frustration in molecular magnets from a physical study of large odd-numbered-metal, odd electron rings.

The term "frustration" in the context of magnetism was originally used by P. W. Anderson and quickly adopted for application to the description of spin glasses and later to very special lattice types, such as the kagomé. The original use of the term was to describe systems with competing antiferromagnetic interactions and is important in current condensed matter physics in areas such as the description of emergent magnetic monopoles in spin ice. Within molecular magnetism, at least two very different definitions of frustration are used. Here we report the synthesis and characterization of unusual nine-metal rings, using magnetic measurements and inelastic neutron scattering, supported by density functional theory calculations. These compounds show different electronic/magnetic structures caused by frustration, and the findings lead us to propose a classification for frustration within molecular magnets that encompasses and clarifies all previous definitions.