Lanthanide single molecule magnets: progress and perspective

The last few years have seen a huge renaissance in the study of single molecule magnets (SMMs) thanks to the extensive applications of lanthanide ions with large inherent anisotropy in molecular magnetism. Particularly, the recent theoretical developments and the experimental expansion into the organometallic avenue have led to an eye-catching boost in this field. Here we highlight the recent progress in this fascinating and challenging field, with emphasis on several combined experimental and theoretical studies.