A stable and strongly ferromagnetic Fe17O10– cluster with an accordion-like structure

Abstract

AbstractIsolated clusters are ideal systems for tailoring molecule-based magnets and investigating the evolution of magnetic order from microscopic to macroscopic regime. We have prepared pure Fen– (n = 7-31) clusters and observed their gas-collisional reactions with oxygen in a flow tube reactor. Interestingly, only the larger Fen– (n ≥ 15) clusters support the observation of O2-intake, while the smaller clusters Fen– (n = 7-14) are nearly nonreactive. What is more interesting is that Fe17O10– shows up with prominent abundance in the mass spectra indicative of its distinct inertness. In combination with DFT calculations, we unveil the stability of Fe17O10– within an interesting acordion-like structure and elucidate the spin accommodation in such a strongly ferromagnetic iron cluster oxide.