An unusual magnetic phenomenon in Mg doping [(CH3)2NH2] CoxMg1−x[HCOO]3 frameworks

Abstract

Abstract In this study, Mg doping metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) [(CH3)2NH2] Co1−x Mg x [HCOO]3 single crystals were synthesized by solvothermal method with normal ratios x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.6. Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDX) results showed that Mg ion is uniformly doped into Co-based MOFs crystal. With the increase of diamagnetic magnesium ions doping, the antiferromagnetic phase transition temperature of Co-based MOFs for pure Co-MOF decreased from 15 K to 7.5 K for x = 0.4. Abnormal larger magnetic hysteresis was obtained for Mg doping crystals with a large coercive field 3100 Oe (x = 0.1), 3700 Oe (x = 0.2), 2900 Oe (x = 0.3) compared with 600 Oe coercive field for pure Co-MOFs (x = 0). At the same time, step-like behavior was first observed on Mg2+ doping sample with x = 0.1–0.3. This unusual magnetic phenomenon is well interpreted based on the coexistence of long-range canted antiferromagnetic order and isolated single-ion quantum magnets. The diamagnetic magnesium ions doping decreases the strong exchange coupling between neighboring Co ions and step-like behavior stemmed from the quantum tunneling of isolated Co ions.