Role of Coordination Number and Geometry in Controlling the Magnetic Anisotropy in Fe , Co , and Ni Single-Ion Magnets.

Since the last decade, the focus in the area of single-molecule magnets (SMMs) has been shifting constructively towards the development of single-ion magnets (SIMs) based on transition metals and lanthanides. Although ground-breaking results have been witnessed for Dy -based SIMs, significant results have also been obtained for some mononuclear transition metal SIMs. Among others, studies based on Co ion are very prominent as they often exhibit high magnetic anisotropy or zero-field splitting parameters and offer a large barrier height for magnetisation reversal. Although Co possibly holds the record for having the largest number of zero-field SIMs known for any transition metal ion, controlling the magnetic anisotropy in these systems are is still a challenge. In addition to the modern spectroscopic techniques, theoretical studies, especially ab initio CASSCF/NEVPT2 approaches, have been used to uncover the electronic structure of various Co SIMs. In this article, with some selected examples, the aim is to showcase how varying the coordination number from two to eight, and the geometry around the Co centre alters the magnetic anisotropy. This offers some design principles for the experimentalists to target new generation SIMs based on the Co ion. Additionally, some important Fe /Fe and Ni complexes exhibiting large magnetic anisotropy and SIM properties are also discussed.