Nested icosahedral Na4@Ln12@L20 nanocages with a {Na4} parallelogram core and a {L20} dodecahedral shell

Abstract

The first family of triple-layered nested lanthanide icosahedral nanocages, which feature a unique concentric architecture bearing a {Na₄} parallelogram core, a {Ln₁₂} icosahedral skeleton and a {L₂₀} dodecahedral shell (Ln = Gd, Dy; L = ligand), have been constructed. Magnetocaloric effect and dual magnetic relaxation behaviour are observed in Gd- and Dy-analogs, respectively.