Correlating luminescence and single-molecule magnetism for two series of heteroleptic lanthanoid complexes

Abstract

In the development of multifunctional materials, symmetry selection rules often exert opposing influences on luminescence and magnetic memory performance. For lanthanoid single-molecule magnets (SMMs), large crystal field splitting or high-symmetry environments are generally advantageous, as they suppress wavefunction mixing and minimize fast relaxation pathways—both essential for achieving slow magnetic relaxation. Conversely, these same selection rules often hinder luminescence in lanthanoid complexes, resulting in low quantum yields and frequently necessitating the use of the antenna effect, in which excitation occurs via a coordinating ligand. Here we report the subtle influence of ligan..