A Molecular Water Pipe: A Giant Tubular Cluster {Dy72} Exhibits Fast Proton Transport and Slow Magnetic Relaxation

A lanthanide cluster, PCC-72, which is the second largest, with 72 Dy(III) ions assembled into an unprecedented tubular structure, is synthesized. Remarkably, PCC-72 exhibits superionic proton conductivity (>10(-4) S cm(-1)) under both ambient (with relative humidity RH < 75%) and hot (T > 90 degrees C, RH = 95%) conditions. Moreover, slow magnetic relaxation is observed, making PCC-72 the largest Dy(III) cluster that is a single-molecule magnet.