Light-induced thermal hysteresis and intensity thresholds in molecular switcheable solids, by mean-field macroscopic master equation approach: Discussion of the experimental data obtained for Co–Fe Prussian Blue Analogues

Enlightening the Alkali Ion Role in the Photomagnetic Effect of FeCo Prussian Blue Analogues

FeCo Prussian blue analogues of general formula A_xCo_y[Fe(CN)₆]_z are responsive, non-stoichiometric materials whose magnetic and optical properties can be reversibly switched by light irradiation. However, elucidating the critical influence of the inserted alkali ion, A⁺, on the material's properties remains complicated due to their complex local structure. Here, by investigating soluble A ⊂ [Fe₄-Co₄] cyanido cubes (A = K, Rb, and Cs), both accurate structural and electronic information could be obtained. First, X-ray diffraction analyses reveal distinct interactions between the inserted A⁺ ions and the {Fe₄-Co₄} box, which impacts the structural distortion in the cubic framework. These distortions vanish, and a displacement of the small K⁺ ion from a corner toward the center is observed, as a cobalt corner Co^II_HS is oxidized to Co^III_LS. Second, cyclic voltammetry experiments performed at variable temperatures show distinct splitting of the Co^II_HS ⇔ Co^III_LS peak potentials for the different A⁺ cations, which can be qualitatively linked to different thermodynamic (standard potentials) and kinetic (energy barriers) parameters associated with the structural reorganization accompanying this redox-coupled spin state change. Moreover, for the first time, photomagnetism was investigated in frozen solution to avoid effects of intermolecular interactions. The results show that the metastable state is stabilized following the trend K > Rb > Cs. The outcome of these studies suggests that the interaction of the inserted alkali ions with the cyanide cage and the structural changes accompanying the electron transfer impact the stability of the photoinduced state and the relaxation temperature: the smaller the cation, the higher the structural reorganization and the associated energy barrier, and the more stable the metastable state.

Evidence of Photo-Thermal Effects on the First-Order Thermo-Induced Spin Transition of [{Fe(NCSe)(py)2}2(m-bpypz)] Spin-Crossover Material

We have investigated by means of optical microscopy and magnetic measurements the first-order thermal spin transition of the [{Fe(NCSe)(py)2}2(m-bpypz)] spin-crossover compound under various shining intensities, far from the light-induced spin-state trapping region. We found evidence of photo-heating effects on the thermally-induced hysteretic response of this spin-crossover material, thus causing the shift of the thermal hysteresis to lower temperature regions. The experimental results are discussed in terms of the apparent crystal temperature and are analyzed theoretically using two evolution equations of motion, written on the high-spin (HS) fraction and heat balance between the crystal and the thermal bath. A very good qualitative agreement was found between experiment and theory in the stationary regime, explaining the experimental observations well and identifying the key factors governing these photo-thermal effects.

Velocity of the high-spin low-spin interface inside the thermal hysteresis loop of a spin-crossover crystal, via photothermal control of the interface motion

We investigated by optical microscopy the thermal transition of the spin-crossover dinuclear iron(II) compound [(Fe(NCSe)(py)(2))(2)(m-bpypz)]. In a high-quality crystal the high-spin (HS) low-spin (LS) thermal transition took place with a sizable hysteresis, at ~108 K and ~116 K on cooling and heating, respectively, through the growth of a single macroscopic domain with a straight LS and HS interface. The interface orientation was almost constant and its propagation velocity was close to ~6 and 26 μ m s(-1) for the on-cooling and on-heating processes, respectively. We found that the motion of the interface was sensitive to the intensity of the irradiation beam of the microscope, through a photothermal effect. By fine-tuning the intensity we could stop and even reverse the interface motion. This way we stabilized a biphasic state of the crystal, and we followed the spontaneous motion of the interface at different temperatures inside the thermal hysteresis loop. This experiment gives access for the first time to an accurate determination of the equilibrium temperature in the case of thermal hysteresis--which was not accessible by the usual quasistatic investigations. The temperature dependence of the propagation velocity inside the hysteretic interval was revealed to be highly nonlinear, and it was quantitatively reproduced by a dynamical mean-field theory, which made possible an estimate of the macroscopic energy barrier.

Molecular spin crossover phenomenon: recent achievements and prospects

Recently we assisted a strong renewed interest in the fascinating field of molecular spin crossover complexes by (1) the emergence of nanosized spin crossover materials through direct synthesis of coordination nanoparticles and nanopatterned thin films as well as by (2) the use of novel sophisticated high spatial and temporal resolution experimental techniques and theoretical approaches for the study of spatiotemporal phenomena in cooperative spin crossover systems. Besides generating new fundamental knowledge on size-reduction effects and the dynamics of the spin crossover phenomenon, this research aims also at the development of practical applications such as sensor, display, information storage and nanophotonic devices. In this critical review, we discuss recent work in the field of molecule-based spin crossover materials with a special focus on these emerging issues, including chemical synthesis, physical properties and theoretical aspects as well (223 references).

Thin deposits and patterning of room-temperature-switchable one-dimensional spin-crossover compounds

We present a study on thin deposits and patterning of 1-D spin-crossover compounds Fe(II)-(L)(2)H](ClO(4))(3)·MeOH [L = 4'-(4'''-pyridyl)-1,2':6'1''-bis- (pyrazolyl) pyridine] (1) that exhibit a reversible, thermally driven spin transition at room temperature. Micrometric rodlike crystals of 1 on silicon surfaces are achieved by drop casting and solvent annealing. We observed that the crystallinity of thin deposits and spin-transition properties critically depends on the deposition procedure. Furthermore, we proved processability and patterning using unconventional wet lithography that reduces the crystallite formation time by 1 order of magnitude. Thin deposits of 1 were characterized by atomic force microscopy, polarized optical microscopy and X-rays, and the switching properties were characterized by Raman spectroscopy.

Light-induced phase separation (LIPS) into like-spin phases observed by Laue neutron diffraction on a single crystal of [Fe(ptz)6](BF4)2

We have followed the photo-transformation, the light-induced thermal hysteresis, and the light-induced phase separation (LIPS) into like-spin phases on a [Fe(ptz)6](BF4)2 single crystal, in the quenched rhombohedral phase, through the analysis of neutron Laue diffraction patterns. In agreement with the analysis of previous magnetic measurements, phase separation was observed in the close vicinity of the static light-induced instability, but not otherwise. The positions of the Laue spots were analysed in terms of variation in the a/c lattice-parameter ratio which is well correlated with the variation of the high-spin fraction predicted by a simple homogeneous mean-field model. Using a mapped version of the same model, we analyzed the line shapes of the Laue spots during photo-excitation and relaxation experiments so as to determine the width of the distribution of irradiation intensities, a crucial parameter in phase separation. The predictions of the mapped model failed to reproduce the rapid initial kinetics of the phase separation process, but were in agreement with the further evolution. These features are attributed to a nucleation and growth process, for which the crossover from microscopic to macroscopic regimes has been observed.

Photomagnetism in clusters and extended molecule-based magnets

Photomagnetism in molecular systems is a new development in molecular magnetism. It traces back to 1982 and 1984 when a transient effect and then the light-induced excited-spin-state-trapping effect was discovered in spin-crossover complexes. The present contribution gives a definition of the phenomenon, a process that changes the magnetism of a (molecular) system after absorption of a photon. It is limited to the discussion of photomagnetism based on metal-metal electron transfer in clusters and extended molecule-based magnets. The paper is organized around the main pairs of spin bearers, which allowed us to evidence and to study the phenomenon: Cu-Mo, Co-Fe, and Co-W. For each metallic pair, we report and discuss the conditions of appearance of the effect and its characteristics, both in extended structures and in molecular units: structure, spectroscopy, magnetism, thermodynamics and kinetics, and applications. We conclude with some brief prospects. The field is in rapid expansion. We are convinced that the interaction of photons with magnetized matter, to provide original magnetic properties, will meet more and more interest in the future.

Monte Carlo simulation of pressure-induced phase transitions in spin-crossover materials

Pressure-induced phase transitions of spin-crossover materials are studied in a microscopic model taking into account the elastic interaction among distortions of lattice due to the difference of the molecular sizes between the high-spin state and the low-spin state. We perform Monte Carlo simulations in the constant pressure ensemble and reproduce several important properties of the pressure effect in a unified way with a microscopic mechanism for the first time. The simulation newly reveals how the temperature dependence of the ordering process changes with the pressure.

Photoexcitation and Relaxation Properties of a Spin-Crossover Solid in the Case of a Stable High-Spin State

The molecular solid [Fe(II)L(2)](ClO(4))(2).CH(3)CN where L is 2,6-bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-ylmethyl)pyridine provides a stable high-spin (HS) state at low temperature. Photoexcitation and subsequent relaxation have been studied using light-induced excited state spin trapping [LIESST(H --> L)] in the 700-850 nm range, determination of T(LIESST), relaxation curves at different temperatures, and temperature dependence of the light-induced spin equilibrium under constant irradiation. The measured photoinduced population of the metastable low-spin (LS) state (<30%) was drastically limited by the concomitant L --> H photoprocess. The absence of static light-induced thermal hysteresis and the stretched exponential shape of the relaxation curves respectively revealed the absence of sizable interactions and a large spreading of the activation energies attributed to the ligand flexibility. The whole data set has been simulated using a linear rate equation, with a simplified correction for the bulk extinction of light in the powder sample.