Nuclear Spin Driven Quantum Tunneling of Magnetization in a New Lanthanide Single-Molecule Magnet: Bis(phthalocyaninato)holmium anion

TL;DR

This study reports the observation of quantum tunneling of magnetization in a new lanthanide single-molecule magnet, driven by nuclear spins, revealing a novel quantum process distinct from transition-metal SMMs.

Contribution

First measurement of magnetization hysteresis and quantum tunneling in a lanthanide SMM, demonstrating a nuclear spin-driven quantum process.

Findings

Observation of staircase-like hysteresis loops indicating QTM

Identification of a nuclear spin-driven quantum tunneling mechanism

First evidence of two-body quantum process in lanthanide complexes

Abstract

The first measurements of magnetization hysteresis loops on diluted single crystal of [(Pc)2Ho]-TBA+ (Pc: phthalocyaninato, TBA: tetrabutylammonium) in the subkelvin temperature range are reported. Characteristic staircase-like structure was observed, indicating the occurrence of the quantum tunneling of magnetization (QTM), which is a characteristic feature of SMMs. The quantum process in the new lanthanide SMMs is due to resonant quantum tunneling between entangled states of the electronic and nuclear spin systems, which is an essentially different mechanism from those of the known transition-metal-cluster SMMs. Evidence of the two-body quantum process was also observed for the first time in lanthanide complex systems.