Enhanced magnetic anisotropy of Mn12-acetate

Thin films of the single molecule magnet [Mn12O12(CH3COO)(16)(H2O)(4)] center dot 2CH(3)COOH center dot 4H(2)O (Mn-12-acetate) have been fabricated on a Si-substrate by the dip-and-dry method, a simple and robust technique. Atomic force microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy characterizations reveal that homogeneous, thin films of a few molecular layers with smoothness at the molecular level are deposited. Significant changes in magnetic properties Of Mn-12-acetate exposed to the same solvent were observed in zero field-cooled and field-cooled magnetization, as well as AC-susceptibility measurements. The blocking temperature was found to increase to T-B > 10 K at low magnetic fields, indicating an enhanced magnetic anisotropy. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.