Achieving large thermal hysteresis in an anthracene-based manganese(II) complex via photo-induced electron transfer

• Published in: Nature communications Vol. 13; no. 1; pp. 2646 - 9
• Main Authors: Hu, Ji-Xiang, Li, Qi, Zhu, Hai-Lang, Gao, Zhen-Ni, Zhang, Qian, Liu, Tao, Wang, Guo-Ming
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 12.05.2022; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 119/118; 639/638/263/915; 639/638/298/920; 639/638/911; Anthracene; Bistability; Chains; Crystal structure; Crystals; Density functional theory; Dicarboxylic acids; Electron transfer; Electrons; Humanities and Social Sciences; Hysteresis; Hysteresis loops; Irradiation; Ligands; Light; Light irradiation; Magnets; Manganese; Manganese ions; multidisciplinary; Photochromism; Radiation; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Structural analysis; Temperature; Topology; Zinc
• ISSN: 2041-1723; 2041-1723
• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30425-1

Achieving magnetic bistability with large thermal hysteresis is still a formidable challenge in material science. Here we synthesize a series of isostructural chain complexes using 9,10-anthracene dicarboxylic acid as a photoactive component. The electron transfer photochromic Mn 2+ and Zn 2+ compounds with photogenerated diradicals are confirmed by structures, optical spectra, magnetic analyses, and density functional theory calculations. For the Mn 2+ analog, light irradiation changes the spin topology from a single Mn 2+ ion to a radical-Mn 2+ single chain, further inducing magnetic bistability with a remarkably wide thermal hysteresis of 177 K. Structural analysis of light irradiated crystals at 300 and 50 K reveals that the rotation of the anthracene rings changes the Mn1–O2–C8 angle and coordination geometries of the Mn 2+ center, resulting in magnetic bistability with this wide thermal hysteresis. This work provides a strategy for constructing molecular magnets with large thermal hysteresis via electron transfer photochromism. Achieving magnetic bistability with large thermal hysteresis is still a challenge in material science. Here, the authors report a Mn(II) chain complex that enables light-induced magnetic bistability with a 177 K thermal hysteresis loop.