Spin-transition in nearly cubic site in [FeII(L)3][PF6]2

The spin-transition (¹A₁?⁵T₂) behaviour of a new mononuclear iron(II) compound [Fe^II(L)₃][PF₆]₂[L = 2-[3-(2′-pyridyl)pyrazole-1-ylmethyl]pyridine] has been investigated by ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy. Analysis of the Mössbauer spectra revealed low value of the quadrupole splitting of the high-spin state which reflects iron(II) to be in nearly cubic lattice site. Mössbauer spectra under light show the light-induced excited spin state trapping effect and the observed quadrupole splitting of the metastable high-spin state is found little sensitive to the high-spin fraction value. DFT calculations are in progress to document the almost cubic nature of the ligand-field acting on the iron atom.     

Non-linear Relaxation of the Photo-induced High Spin State in Spin-Crossover Solids: Effect of Correlations

We investigate a microscopic model based on the pair approximation, for the dynamical properties of the photo-induced high-spin state in spin-crossover solids at low temperature. The model uses the Ising-like hamiltonian and combines long- and short-range interactions. The stochastic treatment of the latter provides a set of two coupled differential equations for the macroscopic short- and long-range order parameters, which reproduce successfully the main features of the experimental relaxation curves.     

Light-induced bistability in spin transition solids leading to thermal and optical hysteresis

We investigate the behaviour of photo-excitable, bistable systems, under permanent light irradiation, in presence of relaxation towards the non-excited state. Cooperativity causes bistability of the steady state, leading to light-induced thermal and optical hysteresis (LITH and LIOH). The light-induced instability is expected to induce demixtion, i.e. the coexistence of domains of the two stable steady states. Such effects are evidenced by magnetic and reflectivity measurements on the spin-crossover solid solution: , with x= 0.3, 0.5, 0.85. Experimental data are in quantitative agreement with a simple macroscopic model which includes a non-linear relaxation term in the master equation. Received: 5 June 1997 / Accepted: 17 July 1998     

Nonexponential relaxation of the metastable state of the spin-crossover system [Fe(L)2](ClO4)2.H2O [L = 2,6-Bis(pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)pyridine

The relaxation of the metastable state of the spin-crossover compound [Fe(L)(2)](ClO(4))(2).H(2)O, with L = 2,6-bis(pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)pyridine, populated by the LIESST (light induced excited spin state trapping) effect, has been investigated by magnetic measurements. The time dependence of the relaxation curve at several temperatures, starting from different initial states, is in the shape of stretched exponentials, and the thermal variation of the photostationary state under constant photoexcitation is progressive and reversible. These features are satisfactorily modeled by considering noninteracting two-level systems with a distribution of activation energies. A suggested origin for the distribution is the conformational flexibility of the nonplanar heterocyclic ligands. The effect of the intensity distribution during the LIESST process is also accounted for in a simple way.     

Molecular and multidimensional polyoxotungstates functionalized by {Cu(bpy)}2+ groups

Five new materials built from polyoxotungstates and Cu(ii) ions as linkers have been synthesized by hydrothermal reactions from a mixture of sodium tungstate, copper chloride and bipyridine. The value of the initial pH, the nature of the heteroelement (P or Si) and of the ligand (2,2'- and/or 4,4'-bipyridine) permit the control of the nature of the polyoxotungstate clusters and their connectivity via the copper ions, and hence the dimensionality of the framework. A single phase has been obtained with silicon as heteroelement at an initial pH of 5, namely the 2D material [SiW(12)O(40)][Cu(2,2'-bpy)(2)](2).10H(2)O (1) with saturated Keggin polyoxotungstates linked by {Cu(2,2'-bpy)(2)}(2+) groups. With phosphorous as heteroelement and at the same initial pH, three different structures have been isolated according to the nature of the ligand. Indeed, the two 1D materials [{Cu(5)(2,2'-bpy)(5)(H(2)O)(HPO(4))(PO(4))}PW(11)CuO(39)].6H(2)O (2) with 2,2'-bpy and [4,4'-Hbpy][{Cu(2)(2,2'-bpy)(2)(4,4'-bpy)(2.5)}PW(11)CuO(39)].16H(2)O (3) with a mixture of 2,2'- and 4,4'-bpy have been characterized, and a coordination polymer with polyoxometalate guests Na(3)[4,4'-Hbpy]{Cu(4)(4,4'-bpy)(8)(H(2)O)(8)}[PW(11)CuO(39)(H(2)O)][PW(10)Cu(2)O(38)(H(2)O)(2)].38H(2)O (4) with 4,4'-bpy has been obtained. Finally, in basic medium (pH = 10) the unprecedented molecular cluster Na(2)[{Cu(8)(2,2'-bpy)(8)}(PW(8)O(31))(2)].15H(2)O (5) has been evidenced. Magnetic studies of compound 2 revealed that the predominant interactions involve only 4 paramagnetic centers, which are interacting within pairs, among the 6 Cu(ii) centers. The chi(M)T=f(T) curve can be fitted using the dinuclear expression appropriate to the HDVV isotropic exchange Hamiltonian H=-JS(1)xS(2), with S(1)=S(2)=(1/2) and J=-105.4 cm(-1), showing strong antiferromagnetic interactions within the two Cu(ii) pairs.     

Magnetic and Mössbauer investigation of the photomagnetic Prussian blue analogue Na(0.32)Co[Fe(CN)6](0.74).3.4H2O: cooperative relaxation of the thermally quenched state

Thanks to thermal quenching we investigated the relaxation of the metastable state of Na(0.32)Co[Fe(CN)6](0.74).3.4H2O at low temperature. A self-accelerated process has been observed in agreement with the cooperative character of the system, responsible for the large thermal hysteresis of the charge-transfer-induced spin transition. The mean-field analysis of the relaxation is discussed with respect to the equilibrium properties. A sizable deviation from mean-field behavior is observed at the beginning of the relaxation process, which might be attributed to a preliminary structural relaxation of the quenched state.     

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.     

Molecular Switchable Solids: towards photo-controlled magnetism

Molecular Switchable Materials are considered here in view of their potentialities towards the photo-control of magnetic properties. Major results obtained in the past few years are reviewed here, viz. generic features of photo-induced magnetism (external control of magnetic dilution, Raw Photo-Induced magnetic state), various photo-magnetic functionalities and recent successes in single-shot photo-excitation. The main challenges for the future clearly are : understanding the nature of the so-called Domino effect, reaching room-temperature photo-magnets.