We
measured the infrared vibrational properties of two copper-containing
coordination polymers, [Cu(pyz)2(2-HOpy)2](PF6)2 and [Cu(pyz)1.5(4-HOpy)2](ClO4)2, under different external stimuli
in order to explore the microscopic aspects of spin–lattice
coupling. While the temperature and pressure control hydrogen bonding,
an applied field drives these materials from the antiferromagnetic
→ fully saturated state. Analysis of the pyrazine (pyz)-related
vibrational modes across the magnetic quantum-phase transition provides
a superb local probe of magnetoelastic coupling because the pyz ligand
functions as the primary exchange pathway and is present in both systems.
Strikingly, the PF6
– compound employs
several pyz-related distortions in support of the magnetically driven
transition, whereas the ClO4
– system
requires only a single out-of-plane pyz bending mode. Bringing these
findings together with magnetoinfrared spectra from other copper complexes
reveals spin–lattice coupling across the magnetic quantum-phase
transition as a function of the structural and magnetic dimensionality.
Coupling is maximized in [Cu(pyz)1.5(4-HOpy)2](ClO4)2 because of its ladderlike character.
Although spin–lattice interactions can also be explored under
compression, differences in the local structure and dimensionality
drive these materials to unique high-pressure phases. Symmetry analysis
suggests that the high-pressure phase of the ClO4
– compound may be ferroelectric.