title: Grafting single molecule magnets on gold nanoparticles.
abstract: The chemical synthesis and characterization of the first hybrid material composed by gold nanoparticles and single molecule magnets (SMMs) are described. Gold nanoparticles are functionalized via ligand exchange using a tetrairon(III) SMM containing two 1,2-dithiolane end groups. The grafting is evidenced by the shift of the plasmon resonance peak recorded with a UV-vis spectrometer, by the suppression of nuclear magnetic resonance signals, by X-ray photoemission spectroscopy peaks, and by transmission electron microscopy images. The latter evidence the formation of aggregates of nanoparticles as a consequence of the cross-linking ability of Fe4 through the two 1,2-dithiolane rings located on opposite sides of the metal core. The presence of intact Fe4 molecules is directly proven by synchrotron-based X-ray absorption spectroscopy and X-ray magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopy, while a detailed magnetic characterization, obtained using electron paramagnetic resonance and alternating-current susceptibility, confirms the persistence of SMM behavior in this new hybrid nanostructure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry "U. Schiff", Università di Firenze & INSTM RU Firenze, via della Lastruccia 3, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy.
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Perfetti
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pineider
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Poggini
authors.forename: Edwige
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Otero
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mannini
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sorace
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sangregorio
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cornia
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sessoli
keywords: nanomagnetism; nanoparticles; single-molecule magnets; spintronics; synchrotron-radiation