A remarkable energy barrier for spin reversal in a field induced dinuclear ytterbium single molecule magnet.

A dinuclear ytterbium complex has been designed with a strong ligand field in equatorial positions. Magnetic studies reveal the presence of easy-axis anisotropy and field induced slow relaxation of magnetization with a remarkable energy barrier, Ueff = 53.58 cm-1, the highest value reported for any Yb-based SMMs to date. Furthermore, the ab initio calculations disclose the importance of a weak axial ligand field to design high-performance Yb-based SMMs.