The pore space in the metal–organic framework Zr6O4(OH)4(bpydc)6 can be used as a scaffold to grow precisely defined atomically thick sheets of metal halide materials, taking advantage of multiple binding sites to direct complexation of the metal ions; these metal halide nanosheets fill the size gap between discrete molecular magnets and bulk magnetic materials, with potentially unusual magnetic properties arising from this size regime.
- Miguel I. Gonzalez
- Ari B. Turkiewicz
- Jeffrey R. Long