Unprecedented Reverse Volume Expansion in Spin-Transition Crystals

The current craze for research around the spin crossover phenomenon can be justified to some extent by the mechanical properties due to the decrease of volume associated with the transition of the metal ion from the HS state to the LS state. As demonstrated here, the molecular complex [Fe(PM-pBrA)₂(NCS)₂] exhibits, on the contrary, an increase of the unit-cell volume from HS to LS. This counter-intuitive and unprecedented behavior that concerns both the thermal and the photoexcited spin conversions is revealed by a combination of single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction complemented by magnetic measurements. Interestingly, this abnormal volume change appears concomitant with the wide rotation of a phenyl ring which induces a drastic modification, though reversible, of the structural packing within the crystal. In addition, the light-induced HS state obtained through the Light-Induced Excited Spin-State Trapping shows a remarkably high relaxation temperature, namely T(LIESST), of 109 K, one of the highest so far reported. The above set of quite unusual characteristics opens up new fields of possibilities within the development of spin crossover materials.     

PROTONATION CONSTANTS AND SOLVENT DEPENDENT SPIN-CROSSOVER BEHAVIOUR OF IRON(II)-2-(2′-PYRIDYL)BENZIMIDAZOLE COMPLEXES

Abstract

2-(2′-Pyridyl)benzimidazole (pybzim = LH) coordinates to iron(II) as a bidentate and forms the tris-ligated complex, [Fe(pybzim)₃]²⁺ as isolated in the solid. Titration of [Fe(pybzim)₃]²⁺ with base demonstrates the successive deprotonation of the imino hydrogens of the coordinated ligands. Protonation constants for the free ligand, pybzim (Iog₁₀ K ^H = 11.33) and the complex, [Fe(pybzim)₃]²⁺ (log₁₀ K ^H ₁ = 9.58, log₁₀ K ^H ₂ = 8.13 and log₁₀ K ^H ₃ = 6.97) were measured in 30% (v/v) H₂O/EtOH. Results show that coordination to iron(II) increases the acidity of the imino hydrogen of the ligand. Spin-crossover behaviour of the complex were studied in different solvents ME, AC, AN, NM, NB, DMF, DMSO and ANL. The complex shows strong spin-crossover behaviour which is solvent dependent. Values of the spin-equilibrium constant (K _sc) and the associated thermodynamic parameters (ΔH _sc = 18.1–21.3 kJ mol^?1 and δS _sc = 69.6–84.4JK^?1 mol^?1) were calculated. An increase of the enthalpy is observed with increasing donor number (DN) of the solvent.     

AAO辅助三唑亚铁纳米材料:一维限制生长和二维表面成膜及自旋转换性能

通过连续多步自组装的方式分别将三唑亚铁（SCO1）和氨基三唑亚铁（SCO2）自旋转换纳米材料生长于氧化铝模板（AAO）的孔道内和表面上。利用扫描电镜（SEM）、红外光谱（IR）、粉末X射线衍射（PXRD）、拉曼光谱（Raman）等手段对SCO1-1D+2D和SCO2-1D+2D纳米材料进行表征,SEM表明随着自组装时间的增加,球状的SCO纳米颗粒生长于AAO孔道内,并逐渐形成1D的纳米结构,而在AAO表面则形成致密均匀的SCO-2D薄膜。两种SCO-1D+2D纳米粒子都具有两步自旋行为（SCO1-1D+2D：T_c1↑=319 K,T_c1↓=313 K,T_c2↑=381 K,T_c2↓=340 K;SCO2-1D+2D：T_c1↑=181 K,T_c1↓=155 K,T_c2↑=246 K,T_c2↓=233 K）。对相应的SCO-1D和SCO-2D磁性结果表明,两步自旋转换行为的产生是由于SCO组装体形貌的差异。其中,低温区的自旋转换行为是由生长于AAO表面的SCO-2D自旋转换性能所致,而发生在更高温度的第二阶段的自旋转换行为则归因于生长于AAO孔道内的SCO-1D的自旋转换性能。     

自旋转换-氧化石墨烯纳米复合材料的制备及磁性

利用氧化石墨烯（GO）表面具有丰富含氧基团的特点,采用原位生长法将经典的亚铁三氮唑自旋转换（SCO）配位聚合物[Fe（Htrz）₂（trz）]（BF₄）负载到二维材料GO的表面。利用X射线粉末衍射（PXRD）、红外光谱（FTIR）、SEM、TEM、拉曼等手段对自旋转换-氧化石墨烯（SCO-GO）纳米复合材料进行了表征。通过光谱表征发现,复合材料的FTIR和PXRD特征峰为GO和[Fe（Htrz）₂（trz）]（BF₄）特征峰的叠加,初步证明了自旋转换-氧化石墨烯纳米复合材料已成功制备。SEM和TEM分析直观地显示立方体状的[Fe（Htrz）₂（trz）]（BF₄）纳米颗粒均匀地分散在氧化石墨烯表面,且随着原位生长时间的增加,GO表面的[Fe（Htrz）₂（trz）]（BF₄）的负载量增加、尺寸增大。拉曼图谱表明[Fe（Htrz）₂（trz）]（BF₄）负载到GO表面后,氧化石墨烯特征拉曼峰的强度比（ID/IG）增大,说明氧化石墨烯的缺陷密集程度增大,[Fe（Htrz）₂（trz）]（BF₄）纳米颗粒与石墨烯之间的作用力增强。磁性测试表明不同自组装时间（1、6、12 h）的SCO-GO复合材料的T_1/2↑分别为381.1、381.5和382.4 K,T_1/2↓分别为345.9、345.0和344.8 K,其磁滞回线宽度分别为35.2、36.5和37.6 K,这是由于不同自组装时间的SCO-GO复合材料中[Fe（Htrz）2（trz）]（BF4）的负载量和尺寸的差异导致的。DSC分析结果和磁性结果一致,证实了SCO-GO复合材料自旋转变温度向高温区移动。     

卤素离子触发亚铁四面体笼的自旋状态转换

合理构筑了3个具有固态自旋交叉特性的亚铁四面体笼状化合物1~3。单晶X射线衍射分析证实了化合物是由6个咪唑席夫碱配体和4个亚铁离子组装形成的边导向封顶胶囊结构。金属中心占据四面体的顶点,而配体组成了四面体的边。这些笼状化合物的内部空腔被咪唑基团环绕,而外部则被取代苯环包围。一个阴离子客体被限域在笼状化合物空腔内,并与笼状化合物主体产生较强的相互作用。当在笼状化合物的乙腈溶液中加入卤素离子（Cl^-和Br^-）时,溶液的颜色和MLCT峰强度会发生明显变化,表明亚铁四面体笼状化合物的自旋状态由低自旋向髙自旋发生了转换。     

Mössbauer studies of mixed-valence spin-crossover iron complexes with a hexadentate tripod ligand

The spin-crossover behaviors of mixed-valence iron compounds [Fe^IIH₃L][Fe^IIIL](NO₃)₂ (1) and [Fe^IIH₃L^Me][Fe^IIIL^Me](NO₃)₂ (2) have been investigated by ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy, where H₃L is a hexadentate N₆ tripod ligand containing three imidazole groups and H₃L^Me is its 2-methylimidazole derivative. Deconvolution analyses of the Mössbauer spectra revealed that a two-step SCO (LS Fe^II–LS Fe^III→HS Fe^II–LS Fe^III→HS Fe^II–HS Fe^III) proceeds in each compound on elevating the temperature. Compound 2 exhibited lower spin-transition temperatures than 1. “Frozen-in effect” was observed below 120 and 50 K for 1 and 2, respectively.     

Simultaneous Modulation of Magnetic and Dielectric Transition via Spin‐Crossover‐Tuned Spin Arrangement and Charge Distribution

Magnetic and dielectric properties have been tuned simultaneously by external stimuli with rapid and sensitive response, which is crucial to monitor the magnetic state via capacitive measurement. Herein, positive charged Fe^II ions were linked via negative charged [(Tp)Fe^III(CN)₃]^? (Tp=hydrotris(pyrazolyl)borate) units to form a neutral chain. The spin‐crossover (SCO) on Fe^II sites could be sensitively triggered via thermal treatment, light irradiation, and pressure. SCO switched the spin state of the Fe^II ions and antiferromagnetic interactions between Fe^III and Fe^II ions, resulting in significant change in magnetization. Moreover, SCO induced rotation of negative charged [(Tp)Fe^III(CN)₃]^? units, generating dielectric anomaly due to geometric change of charges distribution. This work provides a rational way to manipulate simultaneous variations in magnetic and dielectric properties utilizing SCO as an actuator to tune spin arrangement, magnetic coupling, and charge distribution.     

Solvent Dependent Spin‐Crossover and Photomagnetic Properties in an Imidazolylimine FeII Complex

The synthesis and physico‐chemical characterization of an Fe^II complex [Fe( L1 )₃](ClO₄)₂?CH₃CN?0.5H₂O, 1 , incorporating a bidentate imidazolylimine‐based ligand are reported. Complex 1 crystallises as the mer‐isomer and the crystal lattice is replete with hydrogen bonding interactions between ClO₄^? anions, solvent molecules and imidazole N‐H groups. Variable‐temperature structural, magnetic, photomagnetic and optical reflectivity techniques have been deployed to fully characterise the spin‐crossover (SCO) behaviour in 1 along with its desolvated phase, 1?desolv . Variable‐temperature (1.8–300 K) magnetic‐susceptibility measurements reveal a broad two‐step full SCO for 1 (T_1/2=158 and 184 K) and photomagnetic experiments at 10 K under white‐light irradiation revealed complete photo‐induced SCO. 1?desolv displays considerably different magnetic behaviour with sharp single‐step SCO accompanied by a thermal hysteresis (T_1/2↑=105 K, T_1/2↓=95 K) in addition to full photo‐induced SCO at lower temperatures.     

Reversible Control by Light of the High‐Spin Low‐Spin Elastic Interface inside the Bistable Region of a Robust Spin‐Transition Single Crystal

By using a weak modulated laser intensity we have succeeded in reversibly controlling the dynamics of the spin‐crossover (SC) single crystal [{Fe(NCSe)(py)₂}₂(m‐bpypz)] inside the thermal hysteresis. The experiment could be repeated several times with a reproducible response of the high‐spin low‐spin interface and without crystal damage. In‐depth investigations as a function of the amplitude and frequency of the excitation brought to light the existence of a cut‐off frequency ca. 1.5 Hz. The results not only document the applicability of SC materials as actuators, memory devices, or switches, but also open a new avenue for the reversible photo‐control of the spin transition inside the thermal hysteresis.