LAUSR

Abstract Since 1993, single molecule magnets (SMMs) have received a wide attention for their potential applications in high-density information storage device, quantum computer and spintronics. Particularly, since a CuII2TbII2 complex was found to possess slow magnetic relaxation behavior in 2004, 3d-4f heterometallic complexes are being investigated because they can provide the moderate magnetic couplings between 3d and 4f ions and can provide the significant single-ion magnetic anisotropies of 4f ions, which are in favor of improving SMM performance. Choosing an appropriate organic ligand with ligating atoms linked with 3d and 4f ions simultaneously is a key to synthesize 3d-4f complexes. However, synthesizing 3d-4f complexes by employing two kinds of non-carboxylate organic ligands has received little attention. We believe that the metal core topologies, the magnetic couplings, coordination geometries of 4f ions and the magnetic relaxation behavior of the 3d-4f complexes could be modulated by employing several types of non-carboxylate organic ligands due to the large steric effects between the non-carboxylate organic ligands. Based on the considerations, in recent years, we concentrated on the investigations of the 3d-4f complexes with several types of non-carboxylate organic ligands. In this review, we will present a summary of the 3d-4f complexes reported by us. The studies indicate that the metal core topologies and the magnetic couplings of the obtained 3d-4f complexes were indeed regulated, and most of the complexes possess SMM behavior. Finally, we provided some suggestions to further improve the SMM performance of the 3d-4f complexes.