The chemical bond and its role as a mediator of magnetic exchange interaction remains a crucial aspect in the study of molecular magnetism. Within the M[TCNE] (M = 3d metal; TCNE = tetracyanoethylene) class of organic-based magnets, only V [TCNE] x (x ∼ 2) orders magnetically above room temperature (T c ∼ 400 K), while structural factors underlying this exceptional behavior remain elusive. Conversely, Mn-[TCNE] complexes of diverse crystal structure have recently become available, e.g., 2D-layer [Mn(TCNE)(NCMe) 2 ][SbF 6 ] (T c ∼ 75 K), and 3D-network [Mn(TCNE) 1.5 ](I 3 ) 0.5 (T c ∼ 170 K). Using this experimental structural data, DFT simulations have been performed and the spin-polarized electronic structures resolved. The nature of orbital interactions crucial for understanding magnetic behavior was revealed. Magnetic coupling, spin−orbital hybridization, as well as formation of exchange/superexchange pathways have been identified and interpreted in terms of the dimensionality of magnetic interaction. These results illustrate the complex nature of the electron exchange landscape in M[TCNE] molecule-based magnets.
■ INTRODUCTIONFor several decades, magnetism in the solids containing 3d electrons has remained one of the main focuses of modern materials science targeting applications in spintronics. In contrast to the itinerant ferromagnetic exchange between almost free electrons in metals (direct exchange), the main mechanism of exchange interaction in magnetic insulators like simple transition metal oxides is a virtual hopping of electrons between almost isolated ions (metal and oxygen) leading either to anti-or ferromagnetic Heisenberg exchange interaction between unpaired spins of metals, traditionally defined as indirect-or superexchange. 1−3Molecule-based magnets (MBMs) are a relatively new class of magnetic materials, in which molecular moieties bearing unpaired spin density interact electronically and magnetically. 4,5 Compared to conventional metallurgic and ceramic magnets, the main benefits of MBMs are usually associated with their lightweight, mechanical flexibility, tunable color or transparency, low-temperature processing, solubility, and compatibility with polymers and other classes of molecular materials. 6 Furthermore, the use of MBMs in the area of spintronics has the potential to become a disruptive technology, since organic materials can enhance preservation of electron spin orientation lifetime relative to inorganic conductors due to their inherently weak spin−orbit coupling. The M[TCNE] (M = 3d metal; TCNE = tetracyanoethylene) complexes represent one of the most interesting classes of MBMs, possessing numerous compositions and structures with varying dimensionalities of magnetic coupling from one-dimensional (1D) inorganic polymer chains 7 and two-dimensional (2D) layers 8−10 to three-dimensional (3D) networks 11 and amorphous solids. 12 M[TCNE] MBMs exhibit a wide range of magnetic ordering temperatures (T c ), with the highest of 400 K observed in V[TCNE] x (x ∼ 2). 12 Recently, interest...