Recent advances in the design of magnetic molecules for use as cryogenic magnetic coolants

This review outlines recent advances in the design of 3d-, 4f-, and 3d-4f type magnetic molecules for use as excellent cryogenic magnetic coolants based on the magnetocaloric effect (MCE), and the structure-magnetocaloric correlations of reported molecular coolants. Further improvements in the MCE values of molecular magnetic materials are also proposed based on assembly strategies from molecular chemistry and crystal engineering. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.