Lantern-shaped 3d–4f high-nuclearity clusters with magnetocaloric effect

Abstract

Two lantern-shaped, high-nuclearity 3d-4f clusters {Ln₅₂Ni₅₂}(Ln = Gd and Dy) were synthesized by using iminodiacetic acid (H₂IDA) and isonicotinic acid (HIN) as the co-ligand under solvothermal conditions. Magnetic studies show a large magnetocaloric effect (MCE) for the gadolinium analogue.