Molecular coolers: The case for [CuII5GdIII4]

Abstract

The use of triethanolamine (teaH3) in 3d/4f chemistry produces the enneanuclear cluster compound [CuII5GdIII4O2(OMe)4(teaH)4(O2CC(CH3)3)2(NO3)4]·2MeOH·2Et2O (1·2MeOH·2Et2O) whose molecular structure comprises a series of vertex- and face-sharing {GdIIICuII3} tetrahedra. Magnetic studies reveal a large number of spin states populated even at the lowest temperatures investigated. Combined with the high magnetic isotropy, this enables 1 to be an excellent magnetic refrigerant for low temperature applications.