ИСТИНА

In this work we report a new inorganic phosphate Nd-based single-ion magnet: calcium phosphate apatite Ca5-xNdx(PO4)3Ox(OH)1-x with partial calcium substitution on neodymium. Neodymium in this structure partially substituting calcium is surrounded by 6 oxygen atoms of phosphates and one oxygen that is situated in the centre of trigonal channel replacing hydroxide. This last oxygen is located much closer to the neodymium than 6 others so rare-earth cation is characterized by coordination number 6+1 with one much shorter contact and represents a highly anisotropic ion. ac magnetic measurements of this compound showed a typical features of single ion magnets with narrow relaxation time distribution and Ueff about 93 cm-1. No impact of dilution was observed: two samples with different neodymium concentration show nearly the same magnetic properties.