Tuning surface properties of 2D magnetic coordination polymers

Magnetism has been an elusive property in the 2D-land up to date. There are only few recent reports regarding inorganic monolayers of antiferromagnets (FePS₃) [1, 2] and highly unstable ferromagnets such as CrI₃ [2] or Fe₃GeTe₂ [3].
To overcome the present unstabilities of 2D magnetic materials, we take advantage of layered molecular magnets since, thanks to the chemical design, they are excellent candidates in order to bring new magnetic scenarios as well as to overcome the present unstabilities of 2D magnetic materials. Here [4] we present a pre-synthetic method based on the use of magnetic coordination polymers that affords the isolation of crystalline functionalized monolayers. This involves functionalization of the ligand prior to the formation of the 2D material. The concept is illustrated using layered coordination polymers formed by reacting various benzimidazole derivatives with ferrocene. This surface tuneability, together with the robust magnetic and mechanical properties of these 2D materials, make them exceptional candidates for studying the magnetism in the 2D limit, as well as for developing membranes for selective molecular sensing.
[1] 2D Mat. 3, 031009 (2016)
[2] Nature 546, 270 (2017)
[3] Na. Mat. 17, 778 (2018)
[4] Nat. Chem. 10, 1001 (2018)