Synthesis and magnetothermal properties of a ferromagnetically coupled NiII–GdIII–NiII cluster†

A linear trimeric cluster of molecular formula [Ni2Gd(L(-))6](NO3) () (L(-) = (C14H12NO2) has been isolated with its structure determined via single crystal X-ray diffraction. Magnetic susceptibility measurements of show that the nickel and gadolinium ions are coupled ferromagnetically, with a ground total spin state (S) of 11/2. Best fit spin Hamiltonian parameters obtained for are J1(Ni-Gd) = +0.54 cm(-1), g = 2.01. EPR measurements confirm a low magnetic anisotropy (D = -0.135 cm(-1)) for . Heat capacity determination of the magnetocaloric effect (MCE) parameters for shows that the change in magnetic entropy (-ΔSm) achieves a maximum of 13.74 J kg(-1) K(-1) at 4.0 K, with the ferromagnetic coupling giving a rapid change in low applied fields, confirming the potential of Gd molecular derivatives as coolants at liquid helium temperature.