Proof of Principle: Immobilisation of Robust Cu3IITbIII-Macrocycles on Small, Suitably Pre-functionalised Gold Nanoparticles

In a proof-of-principle study, a soluble macrocyclic single-molecule magnet (SMM) containing a (Cu3TbIII)-Tb-II magnetic core was covalently grafted onto small gold nanoparticles pre-functionalised with carboxylate-terminated tethers. A modified microemulsion method allowed production of the small and monodisperse nanoparticles (approximately 3.5 nm in diameter) for the chemisorption of a large amount of intact macrocyclic complexes in the hybrid system.