Synthesis, structure and canted antiferromagnetism of layered cobalt hydroxide sorbate

Layered hybrid organic-inorganic compounds of the transition metal hydroxides, in which part of the hydroxide ions are exchanged for organic ligands that act as spacers of the 2-dimensional inorganic layers, elicit new or enhanced properties. The interlayer ligands enable fine-tuning of the physicochemical properties of the metal hydroxide layers, including their magnetism. Specifically, within the Co(OH)(2) family of transition ion hydroxides, this approach has been leveraged to stabilize antiferromagnetic and ferrimagnetic ground states for pillared and layered complexes, respectively. Here, we further investigate the effects of changing dimensionality, local Co coordination, and interlayer spacing on the magnetic ground state of brucite-like beta-Co(OH) layered complexes. We report the hydrothermal synthesis of a new crystalline material, Co(OH)(sorb), where the inorganic layers are spaced by monotopic, doubly unsaturated sorbate ligands (sorb = [C6H7O2](-)). The material was structurally characterized using powder X-ray and neutron diffraction measurements and the crystal structure was solved ab initio from powder diffraction data and refined using the Rietveld method. The magnetic susceptibility and magnetization measurements reveal canted antiferromagnetic ordering with T-N = 41.7 K. This report augments our understanding of tuning magnetism through dimensionality in layered complexes and represents a step forward in the design of new 2D layered hybrid compounds.

Automated summary

Layered hybrid organic-inorganic compounds of transition metal hydroxides, with interlayer organic ligands, have shown new or enhanced properties. In this study, the effects of dimensionality, Co coordination, and interlayer spacing on the magnetic ground state of brucite-like beta-Co(OH) layered complexes were investigated. A new crystalline material, Co(OH)(sorb), with inorganic layers separated by monotopic, doubly unsaturated sorbate ligands, was synthesized and characterized. The material exhibited canted antiferromagnetic ordering with a Curie temperature of 41.7 K. This study contributes to the understanding of magnetism tuning in layered complexes and the design of new 2D layered hybrid compounds.