Synthesis, structure and magnetocaloric properties of a new two-dimensional gadolinium(III) coordination polymer based on azobenzene-2,2',3,3'-tetracarboxylic acid.

A new Gd3+ coordination polymer (CP), namely, poly[diaqua[μ4-1'-carboxy-3,3'-(diazene-1,2-diyl)dibenzene-1,2,2'-tricarboxylato]gadolinium(III)], [Gd(C16H7N2O8)(H2O)2]n, (I), has been synthesized hydrothermally from Gd(NO3)3·6H2O and azobenzene-2,2',3,3'-tetracarboxylic acid (H4abtc). The target solid has been characterized by single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy and susceptibility measurements. CP (I) crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c. The structure features a 4-connected topology in which Gd3+ ions are connected by carboxylate groups into a linear chain along the monoclinic symmetry direction. Adjacent one-dimensional aggregates are bridged by Habtc3- ligands to form a two-dimensional CP in the (10-1) plane. A very short hydrogen bond [O...O = 2.4393 (4) Å] links neighbouring layers into a three-dimensional network. A magnetic study revealed antiferromagnetic Gd...Gd coupling within the chain direction. CP (I) displays a significant magnetocaloric effect (MCE), with a maximum -ΔSm of 27.26 J kg-1 K-1 for ΔH = 7 T at 3.0 K. As the MCE in (I) exceeds that of the commercial magnetic refrigerant GGG (Gd3Ga5O12, -ΔSm = 24 J kg-1 K-1, ΔH = 30 kG), CP (I) can be regarded as a potential cryogenic material for low-temperature magnetic refrigeration.