Single-Molecule Magnet Behavior of Individual Polyoxometalate Molecules Incorporated within Biopolymer or Metal-Organic Framework Matrices

The chemically and structurally highly stable polyoxometalate (POM) single‐molecule magnet (SMM) [(FeW9O34)2Fe4(H2O)2]10− (Fe6W18) has been incorporated by direct or post‐synthetic approaches into a biopolymer gelatin (Gel) matrix and two crystalline metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), including one diamagnetic (UiO‐67) and one magnetic (MIL‐101(Cr)). Integrity of the POM in the Fe6W18@Gel, Fe6W18@UiO‐67 and Fe6W18@MIL‐101(Cr) composites was confirmed by a set of complementary techniques. Magnetic studies indicate that the POMs are magnetically well isolated. Remarkably, in Fe6W18@Gel, the SMM properties of the embedded molecules are close to those of the crystals, with clear quantum tunneling steps in the hysteresis loops. For the Fe6W18@UiO‐67 composite, the molecules retain their SMM properties, the energy barrier being slightly reduced in comparison to the crystalline material and the molecules exhibiting a tunneling rate of magnetization significantly faster than for Fe6W18@Gel. When Fe6W18 is introduced into MIL‐101(Cr), the width of the hysteresis loops is drastically reduced and the quantum tunneling steps are smeared out because of the magnetic interactions between the antiferromagnetic matrix and the SMM guest molecules. Shaping of SMM molecules: The incorporation of Fe6W18 polyoxometalate molecules within diamagnetic gelatin or metal–organic framework (including one diamagnetic and one magnetic) matrices preserves their single‐molecule magnet behavior.