Mimicking the magnetic properties of rare earth elements using superatoms
Abstract
Superatom concept has been found to be promising in designing atomic clusters to mimic the chemistry of scarce or expensive elements. Also, longstanding interest and challenge exist in searching for suitable candidates to mimic the valuable properties of rare earth elements owing to their highly important application in modern technologies and extremely low yield. Herein, by using photoelectron imaging spectroscopy, we provide direct experimental evidence that well-designed boron-doped clusters, namely LaB and NdB, could be promising candidates to mimic the magnetic properties of corresponding rare earth atoms Nd and Eu, respectively, because the same numbers of valence electrons, unpaired electrons, and magnetic moments are found in both of the counterparts. This finding opens up an exciting possibility for rare earth mimicry using the superatom concept.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Apr 06, 2015
- Source ID
- 10.1073/pnas.1504714112
Entities
People
- A. W. Castleman Jr.
- Cüneyt Berkdemir
- Shi-bo Cheng
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Office of Naval Research
- Pennsylvania State University
- Yıldız Technical University