Enhancing Magnetic Ordering in Two-Dimensional Metal–Organic Frameworks via Frontier Molecular Orbital Engineering

Two-dimensional (2D) metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have promise for use in lightweight permanent magnets in contrast to inorganic solid- or molecule-based magnets, but the realization of 2D MOF magnets with a high ordering temperature is limited by the typically weak spin exchange interactions. Here, we have proposed a frontier molecular orbital engineering strategy for modulating magnetism in 2D MOFs. It shows that the magnetic ground state can be mediated by two intra-atomic spin exchange pathways in organic ligands, akin to the Bloch and Heisenberg models, depending on the shape of the frontier orbitals of the organic ligands. By engineering the shape of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) via chemical hydrogenation, we achieved a nearly 11-fold increase in the ordering temperature. In particular, a quantitative analysis shows that the ordering temperature increases linearly with the orbital delocalization index of the ligands’ LUMO. This work suggests a general frontier orbital engineering approach for modulating the spin exchange interaction in 2D MOF magnets.