Spin transition with a very large thermal hysteresis in a molecular crystal: an EPR study of Fe(PM-PEA)2(NCS)2

Spin state switching in iron coordination compounds

The article deals with coordination compounds of iron(II) that may exhibit thermally induced spin transition, known as spin crossover, depending on the nature of the coordinating ligand sphere. Spin transition in such compounds also occurs under pressure and irradiation with light. The spin states involved have different magnetic and optical properties suitable for their detection and characterization. Spin crossover compounds, though known for more than eight decades, have become most attractive in recent years and are extensively studied by chemists and physicists. The switching properties make such materials potential candidates for practical applications in thermal and pressure sensors as well as optical devices. The article begins with a brief description of the principle of molecular spin state switching using simple concepts of ligand field theory. Conditions to be fulfilled in order to observe spin crossover will be explained and general remarks regarding the chemical nature that is important for the occurrence of spin crossover will be made. A subsequent section describes the molecular consequences of spin crossover and the variety of physical techniques usually applied for their characterization. The effects of light irradiation (LIESST) and application of pressure are subjects of two separate sections. The major part of this account concentrates on selected spin crossover compounds of iron(II), with particular emphasis on the chemical and physical influences on the spin crossover behavior. The vast variety of compounds exhibiting this fascinating switching phenomenon encompasses mono-, oligo- and polynuclear iron(II) complexes and cages, polymeric 1D, 2D and 3D systems, nanomaterials, and polyfunctional materials that combine spin crossover with another physical or chemical property.

Modeling molecular crystals formed by spin-active metal complexes by atom-atom potentials

We apply the atom-atom potentials to molecular crystals of iron(II) complexes with bulky organic ligands. The crystals under study are formed by low-spin or high-spin molecules of Fe(phen)(2)(NCS)(2) (phen = 1,10-phenanthroline), Fe(btz)(2)(NCS)(2) (btz = 5,5',6,6'-tetrahydro-4H,4'H-2,2'-bi-1,3-thiazine), and Fe(bpz)(2)(bipy) (bpz = dihydrobis(1-pyrazolil)borate, and bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine). All molecular geometries are taken from the X-ray experimental data and assumed to be frozen. The unit cell dimensions and angles, positions of the centers of masses of molecules, and the orientations of molecules corresponding to the minimum energy at 1 atm and 1 GPa are calculated. The optimized crystal structures are in a good agreement with the experimental data. Sources of the residual discrepancies between the calculated and experimental structures are discussed. The intermolecular contributions to the enthalpy of the spin transitions are found to be comparable with its total experimental values. It demonstrates that the method of atom-atom potentials is very useful for modeling molecular crystals undergoing the spin transitions.

Theoretical study on local defect structure of (FeO4)(5-) clusters in YGG and LGG crystals

The optical spectrum and the local defect structure of tetrahedral (FeO4)(5-) clusters are investigated in yttrium gallium garnet (YGG) and lutetium gallium garnet (LGG) crystals by means of the 252x252 complete energy matrices for d(5) configuration ions in tetragonal ligand field. The results show that the local defect structures around tetrahedral Fe3+ centers display an expansion effect. Simultaneously, the (FeO4(5-) clusters in the two different crystals have very similar local structures, which are close to those in YIG garnet crystal. Finally the relative curves of the zero-field splitting energies DeltaE1 and DeltaE2 in the ground state (6)A(1) varying with the structure parameter theta are plotted.

EPR and IR spectral studies of the sea water mussel Mytilus conradinus shells

The electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and infrared (IR) spectral studies have been employed on the periostracum, the prismatic layer and the nacre of the shell of the marine bivalve molluscan Mytilus conradinus of the South Indian origin. All the layers of this shell show Fe3+ ion spin resonance signals in common. The inner layer namely nacre at room temperature shows EPR signals of Fe3+ ions and the heated one exhibits a sextet hyperfine pattern characteristic of Mn2+ ions. The prismatic layer of the shell also exhibits a similar spectrum, but of distinct pattern. The spin-Hamiltonian parameters have been evaluated for the prismatic and nacreous layers of this shell. Infrared spectra of the two main layers of the shell namely prismatic and the nacre exhibit the characteristic bands of CO3(2-) molecular ion in different symmetries of CaCO3.