Les propriétés spectroscopiques des monocristaux de α-ZnAl2S4, semi-conducteurs de type spinelle avec une large bande interdite, dopées par les ions des métaux de transition sont investigués et leur interprétation est donnée. Les monocristaux, obtenus par la méthode de transport chimique en phase vapeur avec la concentration des impuretés dopantes compris entre 0.01 – 0.1% at., représentent des octaèdres homogènes optique avec des faces orientent (111). Les analyses par les rayons X ont confirmé que tous les échantillons ont cristallisés dans une structure normale de type spinelle avec la symétrie cubique Fd3m (Oh7). Les monocristaux de α-ZnAl2S4 : Ti manifestent des propriétés radiatives dans le domaine spectral du proche infrarouge 0.8–1.4μm. Les résultats spectroscopiques obtenus dans l’intervalle des températures 10-300K (les spectres de la photoluminescence stationnaire et résolue en temps, de l’absorption et de l’excitation de la photoluminescence) sont interprétés dans les termes d’un cluster composé par un ion de Ti4+ dans une configuration octaédrique des six ions de soufre. Les bandes spectrales observées sont attribuées à des transitions électroniques survenues d’un transfert de charge ligand Ti4+ pour les sites octaédriques de titane, qui est en concordance avec la évidence expérimentale de l’absence du RPE signale des ions de Ti. Les constantes vibroniques des niveaux excités et l’auteur de la barrière potentielle entre eux ont étés calculés. La structure des spectres d’absorption et de la luminescence des monocristaux de α-ZnAl2S4 :Co est déterminé par les transitions électroniques des ions de Co2+ localisés dans des sites tétraédriques. Quatre composantes spectrales radiatifs sont révélés en utilisant la spectroscopie résolue en temps sous différentes longueur d’onde d’excitation et il est montré que la photoluminescence des monocristaux de α-ZnAl2S4 : Co est dû aux transitions électroniques entre les niveaux excités des ions de Co2+. Les valeurs calculées des constantes de l’interaction spin – orbite des niveaux excités indiquent une faible influence du part de champ cristallin et une forte interaction spin – orbite. L’absorption optique et la photoluminescence des monocristaux de α-ZnAI2S4 : V sont déterminées des transitions électroniques du vanadium trivalent situé dans des sites octaédriques. L’augmentation de la température est accompagnée par l’amplification de la luminescence intégrale et l’élargissement du spectre centré à λ =1.4μm. Trois composantes spectrales radiatifs de α-ZnAI2S4 : V révélés aux basses températures sont dû aux transitions électroniques des ions de V3+. D’après l’analyse comparative des propriétés spectroscopiques des monocristaux de type spinelle de α-ZnAl2S4 dopés par les ions des métaux de transition Ti, Co, et V, le plus favorable comme milieux actifs laser, est le composée α-ZnAl2S4 : V3+, qui pourrais assurer l’émission dans le domaine des longueurs d’ondes 1.2-1.6μm, ce qui correspondent à la région spectrale utilisée par les systèmes des communications sur fibre optique. / Spectroscopic properties of α-ZnAl2S4 spinel-type single crystals of the wide band gap semiconductor doped by the transition metals Ti, Co and V are investigated and their interpretation is presented. The crystals, grown by the chemical vapour transport method, with activator impurities concentrations 0.01 – 0.1% at., correspond to optically homogeneous octahedrons with (111) - oriented mirror-like faces. The x-ray analyses confirm that all samples crystallised into the normal spinel type structure with Fd3m (Oh7) cubic symmetry. It is found out that α-ZnAl2S4:Ti single crystals exhibit luminescence in the IR spectral range 0.8–1.4μm. The spectroscopic results obtained in the temperature range 10-300K (steady-state and time resolved photoluminescence, optical absorption and excitation luminescence spectra) are interpreted in terms of a cluster composed of the central Ti4+ ion in an octahedral coordination of six sulphur ions. The observed spectral bands are assigned to the electronic transitions arising from the ligand – Ti4+ charge transfer for octahedral sites of titanium that is in agreement with the experimental evidence for the absence of the EPR signal from Ti ions. The vibronic coupling constant for the excited levels and the barrier height between them are calculated. The structure of the absorption and luminescence spectra of α-ZnAl2S4:Co crystals is determined by the electronic transitions of Co2+ ions located in tetrahedral sites. Four radiative spectral components are revealed using the time-resolved spectroscopy at different excitation wavelengths and it is shown that the luminescence of α-ZnAl2S4:Co crystals is due to the electronic transitions between the excited levels of Co2+ ions. The calculated values of the spin-orbit coupling constants of the excited levels indicate a weak crystal field influence and a strong spin-orbit coupling. It is determined that the absorption and luminescent properties of α-ZnAl2S4:V spinel type crystals are the result of electronic transitions of trivalent vanadium ions located in octahedral sites. The rise of temperature leads to the enhancement of the integral luminescence intensity and to the broadening of the spectrum centered at λ =1.4μm. Three main spectral components of the α-ZnAI2S4:V IR spectra revealed at low temperatures are caused by electronic transitions of V3+ ions. The coexistence of a broad band with the narrow lines at low temperatures, when the thermal energy kBT is much less than the height of the potential barrier between the excited states, is explained assuming that there is a phonon assisted tunnelling between these states. On the base of the comparative analysis of spectroscopic properties of α-ZnAl2S4 spinel type crystals doped with transition metals Ti, Co, and V it is established that α-ZnAl2S4:V3+ compounds are the most appropriate for applications as active media for solid state IR-lasers tunable in the 1.2-1.6μm wavelength range, which corresponds to the spectral region used in the fibre-optics communication systems.

In this dissertation, different approaches have been employed to address the quest of understanding the formation and growth mechanisms of carbon-containing molecular ions with relevance to astrochemistry. Ion mobility mass spectrometry and DFT computations were used to investigate how a second nitrogen in the pyrimidine ring will affect the formation of a covalent bond between the benzene radical cation and the neutral pyrimidine molecule, after it was shown that a stable covalent adduct can be formed between benzene radical cation and the neutral pyridine. Evidence for the formation of a more stable covalent adduct between the benzene radical cation and the pyrimidine is reported here. The effect of substituents on substituted-benzene cations on their solvation by an HCN solvent was also investigated using ion mobility mass spectrometry and DFT computations were also investigated. We looked at the effect of the presence of electron-withdrawing substituents in fluorobenzene, 1,4 di- fluorobenzene, and benzonitrile on their solvation by up to four HCN ligands, and compared it to previous work done to determine the solvation chemistry of benzene and phenylacetylene by HCN. We report here the observed increase in the binding of the HCN molecule to the aromatic ring as the electronegativity of the substituent increased. We also show in this dissertation, DFT calculations that reveal the formation of both hydrogen-bonded and electrostatic isomers, of similar energies for each addition to the ions respectively. The catalytic activity of the 1st and 2nd row TM ions towards the polymerization of acetylene done using the reflectron time of flight mass spectrometry and DFT calculations is also reported in this dissertation. We explain the variation in the observed trend in C-H/C-C activity of these ions. We also report the formation of carbide complexes by Zr+, Nb+, and Mo+, with the acetylene ligands, and show the thermodynamic considerations that influence the formation of these dehydrogenated ion-ligand complexes. Finally, we show in this dissertation, a novel ionization technique that we employed to generate ions that could be relevant to the interstellar and circumstellar media using the reflectron time of flight mass spectrometry.

Transition metals (TMs) are ‘elements whose atoms have partially filled d-shell, or which can give rise to cations with an incomplete d-shell’. In TMs, the d-shell overlaps with next higher s-shell. Most of the TMs exhibit more than one (multiple) oxidation states. Some TMs, such as silver and gold, occur naturally in their metallic state but, most of the TM minerals are generally oxides. Most of the minerals on the planet earth are metal oxides, because of large free energies of formation for the oxides. The thermodynamic stability of the oxides is determined from the Ellingham diagram. Ellingham diagram shows the temperature dependence of the stability (free energy) for binaries such as metal oxides. Ellingham diagram also shows the ease of reducibility of metal oxides. TM oxides of general formulas MO, M2O3, MO2, M2O5, MO3 are known to exist, many of them being the ultimate products of oxidation in air in their highest oxidation states. In addition, TM oxides also exist in lower oxidation states which are prepared under controlled conditions. The nature of bonding in these oxides varies from mainly ionic (e.g. NiO, CoO) to mainly covalent (e.g. OsO4). Simple binary oxides of the compositions, MO, generally possess the rock salt structure (e.g. NiO), while the dioxides, MO2, possess the rutile structure (e.g. TiO2); many sesquioxides, M2O3, possess the corundum structure (e.g. Cr2O3). TMs form important ternary oxides like perovskites (e.g. CaTiO3), spinels (e.g. MgFe2O4) and so on. In TM oxides, the valence (outer) d-shell could be empty, d0 (e. g. TiO2), partially filled, dn (1≤ n≤ 9) (e.g. TiO, VO, NiO etc.) or completely filled, d10 (e.g. ZnO, CdO, Cu2O etc.). The outer d electrons in TM oxides could be localized or delocalized. Localized outer d electrons give insulators/semiconductors, while delocalized/itinerant d electrons make the TM oxide ‘metallic’ (e.g. ReO3, RuO2). Partially filled dn states are normally expected to give rise to itinerant (metallic) electron behaviour. But most of TM oxides with partially filled d shell are insulators because of special electronic energy (correlation energy) involved in d electron transfer to adjacent sites. Such insulating TM oxides are known as Mott insulators (e. g. NiO, CoO etc.). Certain TM oxides are known to exhibit both localized (insulating) and itinerant (metallic) behaviour as a function of temperature or pressure. For example, VO2 shows a insulator–metal transition at ~340K. Similar transitions are also known for V2O3, metal-rich EuO and so on. The chemical composition and bonding of TM oxides, which determine the crystal and electronic structures, give rise to functional properties. Table 1 gives representative examples. Properties like ionic conductivity and diffusion are governed by both the crystal structure and the defect structure (point defects), whereas properties such as magnetism and electron transport mainly arise from the electronic structures of the materials. Accordingly, TM oxides provide a platform for exploring functional materials properties. Among the various functional materials properties exhibited by transition metal oxides, the present thesis is devoted to investigations of lithium ion battery cathodes, inorganic pigments and magnetic perovskites. Over the years, most of the lithium containing first row transition metal oxides of rock salt derived structure have been investigated for possible application as cathode materials in lithium ion batteries (LIBs). First major breakthrough in LIBs research was achieved by electrochemically deinserting and inserting lithium in LiCoO2. A new series of cathode materials for LIBs were prepared by incorporating excess lithium into the transition metal containing layered lithium oxides through solid solution formation between Li2MnO3–LiMO2 (M = Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni), known as lithium-rich layered oxides (LLOs). LLOs exhibit improved electrochemical performance as compared to the corresponding end members and hence received significant attention as a potential next generation cathode materials for LIBs in recent times. LiCoO2 (R-3m) crystallizes in the layered α-NaFeO2 structure with the oxygens in a ccp arrangement. Li+ and Co3+ ions almost perfectly order in the octahedral sites (3a and 3b) to give alternating (111) planes of LiO6 and CoO6 octahedra. Table 1. Materials properties exhibited by representative TM oxides. Property Example(s) Ferroelectricity BaTiO3, PbTiO3, Bi4Ti3O12 Nonlinear Optical Response LiNbO3 Multiferroic response BiFeO3, TbMnO3 Microwave dielectric properties Ba3ZnTa2O9 Relaxor Dielectric Properties Pb3MgNb2O9, Colossal Magnetoresistance Tl2Mn2O7 Metallic ‘Ferroelectricity’ Cd2Re2O7 Superconductivity AOs2O6(A = K, Rb, Cs) Redox deinsertion/insertion of LiCoO2 lithium Photocatalysis/water splitting TiO2 Pigment Ca(1-x)LaxTaO(2-x)N1+x (yellow-red), YIn1-xMnxO3 (blue) Metallic Ferromagnetism CrO2 Antiferromagnetism NiO, LaFeO3 Zero thermal expansion ZrW2O8 The reversible capacity of LiCoO2 in common LIBs is relatively low at around 140 mA h g-1 (half of theoretical capacity), corresponding to: LiCo3+O2 → Li0.5Co3+0.5Co4+0.5O2 + 0.5Li+ + 0.5e– . Substitution of one or more transition metal ions in LiCOO2 has been explored to improve the electrochemical performance. The structure of LLOs is described as a solid solution or nano composite of Li2MnO3 (C2/m) and LiMO2 (R-3m). The electrochemical deinsertion/insertion behaviour of LLOs is complex and also not yet understood completely. The present thesis consists of four parts. After a brief introduction (Part 1), Part 2 is devoted to materials for Li-ion battery cathode, consisting of three Chapters 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3. In Chapter 2.1, we describe the synthesis, crystal structure, magnetic and electrochemical characterization of new LiCoO2 type rock salt oxides of formula, Li3M2RuO6 (M = Co, Ni). The M =Co oxide adopts the LiCoO2 (R-3m) structure, whereas the M = Ni oxide also adopts a similar layered structure related to Li2TiO3. Magnetic susceptibility measurements reveal that in Li3Co2RuO6, the oxidation states of transition metal ions are Co3+, Co2+ and Ru4+, whereas in Li3Ni2RuO6, the oxidation states are Ni2+ and Ru5+. Li3Co2RuO6 orders antiferromagnetically at ~10K. On the other hand, Li3Ni2RuO6 presents a ferrimagnetic behaviour with a Curie temperature of ~100K. Electrochemical Li-deinsertion/insertion studies show that high first charge capacities (between ca.160 and 180 mA h g−1) corresponding to ca.2/3 of theoretical capacity are reached albeit, in both cases, capacity retention and cyclability are not satisfactory. Chapter 2.2 presents a study of new ruthenium containing LLOs, Li3MRuO5 (M = Co and Ni). Both the oxides crystallize in the layered LLO type LiCoO2 (α-NaFeO2) structure consisting of Li[Li0.2M0.4Ru0.4]O2 layers. Magnetic susceptibility data suggest that the oxidation states of transition metals are Li3Co3+Ru4+O5 for the M = Co compound and Li3Ni2+Ru5+O5 for the M = Ni compound. Electrochemical investigations of lithium deintercalation–intercalation behaviour reveal that both Co and Ni phases exhibit attractive specific capacities of ca. 200 mA h g-1 at an average voltage of 4 V, that has been interpreted as due to the oxidation of Co3+ and Ru4+ in Li3CoRuO5 and Ni2+ to Ni4+ in the case of Li3NiRuO5. Thus, we find that ruthenium plays a favourable role in LLOs than in non-LLOs in stabilizing higher reversible electrochemical capacities. In Chapter 2.3, we describe the synthesis, crystal structure and lithium deinsertion–insertion electrochemistry of two new LLOs, Li3MRuO5 (M=Mn, Fe) which are analogs of the oxides described in Chapter 2.2. The Li3MnRuO5 oxide adopts a structure related to Li2MnO3 (C2/m), while the Li3FeRuO5 oxide adopts a near-perfect LiCoO2 (R-3m) structure. Lithium electrochemistry shows typical behaviour of LLOs for both oxides, where participation of oxide ions in the electrochemical processes is observed. A long first charge process with capacities of 240 mA h g-1 (2.3 Li per f.u.) and 144 mA h g-1 (1.38 Li per f.u.) is observed for Li3MnRuO5 and Li3FeRuO5, respectively. Further discharge–charge cycling points to partial reversibility. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) characterisation of both pristine and electrochemically oxidized Li3MRuO5 reveals that in the Li3MnRuO5 oxide, Mn3+ and Ru4+ are partially oxidized to Mn4+ and Ru5+ in the sloping region at low voltage, while in the long plateau, O2- is also oxidized. In the Li3FeRuO5 oxide, the oxidation process appears to affect only Ru (4+ to 5+ in the sloping region) and O2- (plateau), while Fe seems to retain its 3+ state. Another characteristic feature of TMs is formation of several coloured solid materials where d–d transitions, band gap transitions and charge transfer transitions are involved in the colouration mechanism. Coloured TM oxides absorbing visible light find important applications as visible light photocatalyst (for example, yellow BiVO4 for solar water splitting and red Sr1-xNbO3 for oxidation of methylene blue) and inorganic pigments [for example, Egyptian blue (CaCuSi4O10), Malachite green (Cu2CO3(OH)2), Ochre red (Fe2O3)]. Pigments are applied as colouring materials in inks, dyes, paints, plastics, ceramic glazers, enamels and textiles. In this thesis, we have focused on the coloured TM oxides for possible application as inorganic pigments. Generally, colours arise from electronic transitions that absorb visible light. Colours of the inorganic pigments arise mainly from electronic transitions involving TM ions in various ligand fields and charge transfer transitions governed by different selection rules. The ligand field d–d transitions are parity forbidden but are relaxed due to various reasons, such as distortion (absence of center of inversion) and vibronic coupling. The d-electrons can be excited by light absorption in the visible region of the spectrum imparting colour to the material. Charge transfer transitions in the visible region are not restricted by the parity selection rules and therefore give intense colours. Here we have investigated the colours of manganese in unusual oxidation state (Mn5+) as well as the colours of different 3d-TM ions in distorted octahedral and trigonal prismatic sites in appropriate colourless crystalline host oxides. These results are discussed in Part 3 of the thesis. In Chapter 3.1, we describe a blue/green inorganic material, Ba3(P1−xMnxO4)2 (I) based on tetrahedral Mn5+O4 :3d2 chromophore. The solid solutions (I) which are sky-blue and turquoise-blue for x ≤ 0•25 and dark green for x ≥ 0•50, are readily synthesized in air from commonly available starting materials, stabilizing the Mn5+O4 chromophore in an isostructural phosphate host. We suggest that the covalency/ionicity of P–O/Mn–O bonds in the solid solutions tunes the crystal field strength around Mn(V) such that a blue colour results for materials with small values of x. The material could serve as a nontoxic blue/green inorganic pigment. In Chapter 3.2, an experimental investigation of the stabilization of the turquoise-coloured Mn5+O4 chromophore in various oxide hosts, viz., A3(VO4)2 (A = Ba, Sr, Ca), YVO4, and Ba2MO4 (M = Ti, Si), has been carried out. The results reveal that substitution of Mn5+O4 occurs in Ba3(VO4)2 forming the entire solid solution series Ba3(V1−xMnxO4)2 (0 < x ≤ 1.0), while, with the corresponding strontium derivative, only up to about 10% of Mn5+O4 substitution is possible. Ca3(VO4)2 and YVO4 do not stabilize Mn5+O4 at all. With Ba2MO4 (M = Ti, Si), we could prepare only partially substituted materials, Ba2M1−xMn5+xO4+x/2 for x up to 0.15, that are turquoise-coloured. We rationalize the results that a large stabilization of the O 2p-valence band states occurs in the presence of the electropositive barium that renders the Mn5+ oxidation state accessible in oxoanion compounds containing PO43−, VO43−, etc. By way of proof-of-concept, we synthesized new turquoise-coloured Mn5+O4 materials, Ba5(BO3)(MnO4)2Cl and Ba5(BO3)(PO4)(MnO4)Cl, based on the apatite – Ba5(PO4)3Cl – structure. Chapter 3.3 discusses crystal structures, and optical absorption spectra/colours of 3d-transition metal substituted lyonsite type oxides, Li3Al1-xMIIIx(MoO4)3 (0< x ≤1.0) (MIII = Cr, Fe) and Li3-xAl1-xMII2x(MoO4)3 (0< x ≤1.0) (MII = Co, Ni, Cu). Crystal structures determined from Rietveld refinement of PXRD data reveal that in the smaller trivalent metal substituted lyonsite oxides, MIII ions occupy the octahedral (8d, 4c) sites and the lithium ions exclusively occur at the trigonal prismatic (4c) site in the orthorhombic (Pnma) structure; on the other hand, larger divalent cations (CoII/CuII) substituted derivatives show occupancy of CoII/CuII ions at both the octahedral and trigonal prismatic sites. We have investigated the colours and optical absorption spectra of Li3Al1-xMIIIx(MoO4)3 (MIII = Cr, Fe) and Li3-xAl1-xMII2x(MoO4)3 (MII = Co, Ni, Cu) and interpreted the results in terms of average crystal field strengths experienced by MIII/MII ions at multiple coordination geometries. We have also identified the role of metal-to-metal charge transfer (MMCT) from the partially filled transition metal 3d orbitals to the empty Mo – 4d orbitals in the resulting colours of these oxides. B The ABO3 perovskite structure consists of a three dimensional framework of corner shared BO6 octahedra in which large A cation occupies dodecahedral site, surrounded by twelve oxide ions. The ideal cubic structure occurs when the Goldschmidt’s tolerance factor, t = (rA + rO)/{√2(rB + rO)}, adopts a value of unity and the A–O and B–O bond distances are perfectly matched. The BO6 octahedra tilt and bend the B – O – B bridges co-operatively to adjust for the non-ideal size of A cations, resulting deviation from ideal cubic structure to lower symmetries. Ordering of cations at the A and B sites of perovskite structure is an important phenomenon. Ordering of site cations in double (A2BB'O6) and multiple (A3BB'2O9) perovskites give rise to newer and interesting materials properties. Depending upon the constituent transition metals and ordering, double perovskite oxides exhibit a variety of magnetic behaviour such as ferromagnetism, ferrimagnetism, antiferromagnetism, spin-glass magnetism and so on. We also have coupled magnetic properties such as magnetoresistance (Sr2FeMoO6), magnetodielectric (La2NiMnO6) and magnetooptic (Sr2CrWO6) behaviour. Here we have investigated new magnetically frustrated double perovskite oxides of the formula Ln3B2RuO9(B = Co, Ni and Ln = La, Nd). The Chapter 4.1 describes Ln3B2RuO9 (B = Co, Ni and Ln = La, Nd) oxides (prepared by a solid state metathesis route) which adopt a monoclinic (P21/n) A2BB'O6 double perovskite structure, wherein the two independent octahedral 2c and 2d sites are occupied by B2+ and (B2+1/3Ru5+2/3) atoms, respectively. Temperature dependence of the molar magnetic susceptibility plots obtained under zero field cooled (ZFC) condition exhibit maxima in the temperature range 25–35K, suggesting an antiferromagnetic interaction in all these oxides. Ln3B2RuO9 oxides show spin-glass behavior and no long-range magnetic order is found down to 2 K. The results reveal the importance of competing nearest neighbour (NN), next nearest neighbor (NNN) and third nearest neighbour (third NN) interactions between the magnetic Ni2+/Co2+ and Ru5+ atoms in the partially ordered double perovskite structure that conspire to thwart the expected ferromagnetic order in these materials.

Με σκοπό τη μελέτη της χημείας ένταξης του υποκαταστάτη δι-2,6-(2-πυριδυλοκαρβονυλο) πυριδίνη (dpcp) με μέταλλα μετάπτωσης 3d, παρασκευάστηκαν οι τετραπυρηνικές πλειάδες [Cu4(N3)2{pyCO(OMe)pyCO(OMe)py}2(MeOH)2](ClO4)∙2MeOH (1∙2MeOH) και [Co4(N3)2(NO3)2{pyCO(OMe)pyCO(OMe)py}2]∙0.5MeOH (2∙0.5MeOH), η εξαπυρηνική πλειάδα [Ni6(CO3)(N3)6{pyCOpyC(O)(OMe)py}3(MeOH)2(H2O)][Ni6(CO3)(N3)6 {pyCOpyC(O)(OMe)py}3(MeOH)3](ClO4)2 (3∙1.8MeOH) και η διπυρηνική πλειάδα [Fe2{pyCO(OMe)py(Η)CO(OMe)py}2(MeO)2](ClO4)2∙(4∙MeOH). Στην συνέχεια μελετήθηκε η χημεία ένταξης του ίδιου υποκαταστάτη με μέταλλα 3d και 4f και παρασκευάστηκαν τα ετερομεταλλικά διπυρηνικά σύμπλοκα [ΜIILnIII{pyCOH(OEt)pyCOH(OEt)py}3](ClO4)2∙EtOH (5-16∙EtOH) με ΜΙΙ = CuΙΙ, CoΙΙ, NiΙΙ, ZnΙΙ, MnΙΙ, FeΙΙ [LnΙΙΙ = GdΙΙΙ (5 - 10), TbΙΙΙ (11 – 16) αντίστοιχα]. Όλα τα σύμπλοκα χαρακτηρίστηκαν κρυσταλλογραφικά, τα σύμπλοκα 4, 10 και 16 χαρακτηρίστηκαν με φασματοσκοπία Mössbauer ενώ τα σύμπλοκα 1 – 10 χαρακτηρίστηκαν μαγνητικά. Πιο συγκεκριμένα, οι μαγνητικές μελέτες των συμπλόκων 1 – 3, 5 και 10 έδειξαν σιδηρομαγνητικές αλληλεπιδράσεις ενώ εκείνες των συμπλόκων 4, 6, 7 και 9 έδειξαν αντισιδηρομαγνητικές αλληλεπιδράσεις. Προκειμένου να μελετηθεί σε βάθος η οικογένεια των βασικών καρβοξυλικών αλάτων του σιδήρου [Fe3O(O2CR)6(H2O)3]A, παρασκευάστηκαν δύο σειρές αυτών των συμπλόκων με R = CCl3, CHBr2, CH2F, CH2Cl, C(OH)Ph2, H, Ph, (CH2)3Cl, Me, CHMe2, Et και CMe3. Στην πρώτη σειρά συμπλόκων (17 - 28) το αντισταθμιστικό ιόν (Α) είναι ClO4-, ενώ στη δεύτερη (29 - 40) είναι NO3-. Η προσπάθεια απομόνωσης του ανάλογου με R = CF3 ήταν άκαρπη και για τα δύο αντισταθμιστικά ιόντα και οδήγησε σε ένα τετραπυρηνικό σύμπλοκο [Fe4O2(O2CCF3)8(H2O)6] (41) με δομή τύπου «πεταλούδας». Πραγματοποιήθηκαν μετρήσεις Mössbauer σε στερεά δείγματα και για τις δύο σειρές και οι ισομερείς μετατοπίσεις και οι τετραπολικές αλληλεπιδράσεις διαφέρουν μεταξύ 0.51 – 0.54 mms-1 και 0.36 – 0.76 mms-1 αντίστοιχα. Μετρήσεις Mössbauer και σε διαλύματα αυτών έδειξαν τη σταθερότητά τους και σε διάλυμα, με εξαίρεση το σύμπλοκο 29 (R = Cl3C, Α = NO3-) που οδήγησε σε σύμπλοκο τύπου «πεταλούδας». Το υψηλής συμμετρίας σύμπλοκο [Fe3O(O2CPh)6(py)3](ClO4)∙py (42) έχει μελετηθεί στο παρελθόν κρυσταλλογραφικά αλλά και με μετρήσεις ανελαστικής σκέδασης νετρονίων IINS και είχε προταθεί ύπαρξη του μαγνητικού φαινομένου Jahn-Teller σε πολύ χαμηλές θερμοκρασίες. Θέλοντας να εξακριβωθεί εάν η μαγνητική συμμετρία σχετίζεται με την πραγματική, πραγματοποιήθηκαν κρυσταλλογραφικές μετρήσεις μεταβλητής θερμοκρασίας στο εργαστήριο ΒΜ01Α του ESRF. Τα αποτελέσματα των πειραματικών μετρήσεων έδειξαν ότι η πραγματική συμμετρία παραμένει ίδια. Στη συνέχεια από μετρήσεις μαγνητικής επιδεκτικότητας ac, παρατηρήθηκε η ύπαρξη μαγνητικών φαινομένων χαλάρωσης υπό την επίδραση ασθενών μαγνητικών πεδίων. / Seeking to study the coordination chemistry of the ligand di-2, 6-(2-pyridylcarbonyl) pyridine (dpcp) with 3d transition metal ions, the tetranuclear complexes [Cu4(N3)2{pyCO(OMe)pyCO(OMe)py}2(MeOH)2](ClO4)∙2MeOH (1∙2MeOH) and [Co4(N3)2(NO3)2{pyCO(OMe)pyCO(OMe)py}2]∙0.5MeOH (2∙0.5MeOH), the hexanuclear complex [Ni6(CO3)(N3)6{pyCOpyC(O)(OMe)py}3(MeOH)2(H2O)][Ni6(CO3)(N3)6{pyCOpyC(O) (OMe)py}3(MeOH)3](ClO4)2 (3∙1.8MeOH) and the dinuclear complex [Fe2{pyCO(OMe)py(Η)CO(OMe)py}2(MeO)2](ClO4)2∙(4∙MeOH) were synthesized. In addition, in order to study the coordination chemistry of the same ligand with mixed 3d transition metal ions and 4f lanthanide ions, the heterometallic dinuclear complexes [ΜIILnIII{pyCOH(OEt)pyCOH(OEt)py}3] (ClO4)2∙EtOH (5-16∙EtOH) were synthesized, with ΜΙΙ = CuΙΙ, CoΙΙ, NiΙΙ, ZnΙΙ, MnΙΙ, FeΙΙ [LnΙΙΙ = GdΙΙΙ (5 - 10), TbΙΙΙ (11 – 16) respectively]. All complexes were structurally characterized and complexes 4, 10 and 16 were characterized by Mössbauer spectroscopy. Magnetic properties measurements of complexes 1-3, 5 and 10 indicated the existence of ferromagnetic interactions, while those of 4, 6, 7 and 9 indicated the existence of antiferromagnetic interactions. For the in depth study of the family of basic iron (III) carboxylates [Fe3O(O2CR)6(H2O)3]A, two series of complexes were prepared with R = Cl3C, CHBr2, CH2F, CH2Cl, C(OH)Ph2, H, Ph, Cl(CH2)3, Me, CHMe2, Et and Me3C. For the former series (17 - 28) the counteranion (A-) is ClO4- and for the latter (29 - 40) is NO3-. Attempts to prepare the respective trifluoroacetate (R = CF3) complexes were unsuccessful and the reaction system lead to the tetranuclear “butterfly” complex [Fe4O2(O2CCF3)8(H2O)6] (41), irrespective of whether perchlorates or nitrates were used as counteranions. Mössbauer studies revealed very similar isomer shifts for all complexes in the region of 0.51 – 0.54 mms-1, and variable quadrupole splittings, ranging from 0.36 to 0.76 mms-1. Mössbauer studies of the complexes were carried out in frozen MeCN solutions in order to assess their stability in solution and they proved to be stable in MeCN solutions, except complex 29 (R = Cl3C, Α = NO3-), which dissociated to a butterfly-type complex. The high-symmetry cluster [Fe3O(O2CPh)6(py)3](ClO4)∙py (42) has been structurally characterized and its Inelastic Incoherent Neutron Scattering studies have been reported. These studies suggested the existence of a magnetic Jahn-Teller effect at lower temperatures. Seeking to study if there is any correlation between magnetic and structural symmetry, we undertook variable-temperature crystallographic studies on ESRF BM01A beamline. With the results of these data we concluded that the symmetry of the crystal remained. Moreover, we have discovered that this complex exhibits magnetic relaxation phenomena under weak magnetic fields, observed by ac magnetic susceptometry.