Magnetic proximity effect in ferrimagnetic-ferromagnetic core-shell Prussian blue analogues molecular magnet

A magnetic proximity effect has been observed in core-shell structure of molecular magnet, Mn-1.5[Cr(CN)(6)]center dot mH(2)O@Ni-1.5[Cr(CN)(6)]center dot nH(2)O, synthesized using a ferrimagnetic core of Mn-1.5[Cr(CN)(6)]center dot 7.5H(2)O surrounded by a ferromagnetic shell of Ni-1.5[Cr(CN)(6)]center dot 7.5H(2)O. The values of Curie temperature (T-C) are found to be of similar to 65 and similar to 60K for the bare-core and bare-shell compounds, respectively. However, an enhanced T-C (similar to 70K) has been observed for the core-shell structure. The proximity effect (due to presence of interface exchange coupling) between core and shell is responsible for the observed enhancement of T-C. A neutron depolarization study also confirms finite depolarization below similar to 70K. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.