Chair of Physical and Colloid Chemistry
Southern Federal University

Horizons of Research

Research activity of the Chair of Physical and Colloid Chemistry a SFedU is aimed at solving the fundamental problems of the structure-physicochemical properties relationship and rational design of coordination compounds. Major works were devoted to study of the magnetochemistry of exchange-coupled clusters containing two or more paramagnetic ions. The overarching objective of such research is the creation of so-called molecular magnetic materials (SMM – single molecule magnet) in which the magnetization is preserved at the molecular level. Such systems are of great interest due to modern demands in creating ultra-fast computers and recording devices with ultra-high density data storage.

Series of bi- and polynuclear complexes of d- and f-block metals based on the novel N2O3, N2OS2 and N4O-donor organic units were synthesized and studied, which are promising objects to create molecular electronic devices and as synthetic models non-heme metalloenzymes.

Members of the research group first discovered the phenomenon of triggering the sign of the magnetic exchange interaction (from antiferromagnetic to ferromagnitic) in binuclear copper(II) complexes with asymmetrical exchange fragment as a result of solvent molecules coordination.

triggering the sign of the magnetic exchange interaction

Number of copper(II) complexes with hetarylhydrozones of carbonyl compounds were obtained, which form in the crystal state molecular dimers bound by intermolecular hydrogen bonds. With the help of ESR spectroscopy method and low-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements we first recorded weak antiferromagnitnoe exchange interaction, through the extended superexchange pathways (6-8 atoms), including hydrogen N-H...O bond. The experimental results on this phenomenon were complemented with theoretical insight by high-level quantum chemical calculations.

H-Bond dimers

Series of binuclear dysprosium(III) complexes with N4O and N2O3-donor polydentate ligands – 2,6-diformyl-4-R-phenols bis-acyl- and bis-hetarylhydrozones were synthesized and studied as promising molecular magnet materials. Much research efforts were implemented in the field of ferrocene derivatives chemistry, which lead to synthesis of variety of ferrocene-based metallochelates, in which within one molecule simultaneously two types of donor-acceptor interactions are present: η5-polycentric bond in the ferrocene fragment and classic coordination σ-bonds in the chelate cycle.

An important area of the Chair’s research is the search for new molecular photomagnetoactive materials based on transition metal coordination compounds with chelatofore functionalized organic ligands of spiropyran and spirooxazine series. Photoinduced chemical rearrangements in ligand are expected to stimulate change in magnetic properties of complex that opens up the possibility of direct synthesis of polyfunctional materials with multiple response.

In addition to the traditional areas of scientific interest there are also new ones are being developed, in particular, one can mention the series of studies aimed at development of "green" technologies for producing and storing energy – search of photosensitizers for electrochemical solar cells (DSSC) and obtaining of efficient electrode materials for supercapacitors (ionistors) based on carbon nanotubes, intercalates with small molecules of coordination compounds to improve electrolyte-accessible specific area of material and thus, it’s specific capacity. 

Scientists of the Chair uses a wide range of modern physicochemical research methods: vibrational, electronic, NMR, electron spin resonance spectroscopies, X-ray absorption spectroscopy and X-ray single-crystal structure analysis. Experimental data are complemented by the results of a high-level quantum chemical modeling of electronic structure, reactivity, molecular dynamics, spectral and magnetic properties of coordination compounds.

Chair of the Physical and Colloid Chemistry at SFedU is a well-recognized research centre in the field of chemistry of coordination compounds with advanced publication activity, annually more than 20 papers are published in national and international scientific journals indexed by Scopus and Web of Science (26 articles in 2015 year). Research in the Chair is performed in close cooperation both with Russian universities and scientific institutions (Moscow State University, Kurchatov Research Centre, Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry of Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk Tomographic Center of Russian Academy of Sciences,  etc.) and with foreign partners (University of North Carolina, US), Karnatak University (India), University of Belgrade (Serbia), etc

Top of page

Рейтинг@Mail.ru