Fig. 7

Demonstration of a lanthanide separation strategy using the multivalent cooperative effect of the tetranuclear cage complexes. a Modified structures of ligands L4–6 for solvent extraction experiments; Phase separation properties for LaIII/LuIII mixed-metal self-assemblies using b L4, c L5, and d L6; e Simulated structure of Ln4L64; f Separation factors (with ± 5% exp. error) obtained from lanthanide solvent extraction experiment