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

Bistable molecular materials with dynamic structures

In this Feature Article, we introduce how to manipulate the motion of electrons or molecules by external stimuli, to achieve switchable properties in molecule-based single crystals.

Manipulating the spin crossover behavior in a series of {FeIII2FeII} complexes

Three cyanide-bridged {Fe₂Fe} complexes are reported to exhibit excellent SCO properties which are highly dependent on the compact degree of the π-π stacking, the loss of lattice solvents as well as the electron-donor strength of Tp^R.

Synthesis, structure and magnetic properties of copper(ii) azide

A novel azide-bridged copper compound without an auxiliary ligand has been synthesized and characterized by single-crystal diffraction analysis. The compound consists of 1D double chains with end-on (EO) azide bridges. Furthermore, the neighboring chains are connected by weak coordination bonds, which leads to the formation of a 3D architecture. Low-temperature magnetic measurements reveal that antiferromagnetic interactions are dominant, with concomitant spin-canted antiferromagnetism.

Manipulating Spin Transition To Achieve Switchable Multifunctions

The spin transition of metal ions involves interconversion between electron configurations exhibiting considerably different functions and plays a substantial role in the chemical, physical, and biological fields. The photoinduced spin transition offers a promising approach to tune various physical properties with high spatial and temporal resolutions for producing smart multifunctional materials not only to explore their basic science but also to satisfy the demands of the next-generation photoswitchable-molecule-based devices. Therefore, it is attracting considerable interest to utilize photoinduced spin transition to simultaneously tune multifunctions. However, two issues are challenging in obtaining reversible and swift manipulation of functions: (1) the interconversion between different electron configurations of photoresponsive units should be reversibly switched via photoinduced spin transition; (2) effective coupling should be built between the photoresponsive and functional units to produce photoswitchable functions utilizing photoinduced spin transition. In this Account, we will review our recent advances in the usage of spin transition of metal ions as actuators for tuning the magnetic, dielectric, fluorescence, and mechanical properties, wherein the role of a photoswitchable spin transition is highlighted. We mainly focus on the study of two spin-transition categories, including spin-crossover (SCO) of one metal ion and metal-to-metal charge transfer (MMCT). Initially, we will describe a strategy for developing photoinduced reversible SCO and MMCT. The role of flexible intermolecular interactions, in particular, π···π interactions, is discussed with respect to a photoinduced reversible MMCT. Then, the SCO and MMCT units were assembled using metallocyanate building blocks to form a chain, wherein the spin states, anisotropy, and magnetic coupling interactions can be photoswitched to tune the single-chain magnet behavior. Besides magnetic properties, the photoinduced spin transition that is associated with the concomitant changing of charge distribution, bond lengths, and absorption spectra can be utilized to tune the multifunctions. Therefore, the transfer of an electron from a central cobalt site to one of the two iron sites in linear trinuclear Fe₂Co compounds resulted in the transformation of a centrosymmetric nonpolar molecule into an asymmetric polar molecule, and the molecular electric dipole and dielectric properties can be reversibly switched. Moreover, the spin transition usually involved significant expansion or contraction of the coordination sphere of metal ions because of the population/depopulation of the antibonding e_g orbitals. Therefore, colossal positive and negative thermal expansion behaviors were achieved in a layered compound by manipulating the spin-transition process and the rotation of the functional units, thereby providing a strategy for synthesizing phototunable nanomotors. Photoinduced spin transition can also be used to modulate the fluorescence properties by controlling the energy transfer between the fluorescent ligands and the metal sites showing SCO. Finally, we will provide a perspective and detail the remaining challenges that are associated with this research area. We believe that an increasing number of fascinating photoswitchable SCO and MMCT systems will emerge in the near future and that the materials exhibiting various properties and functions that can be manipulated using photoinduced spin transition will provide novel opportunities for the development of smart multifunctional materials and devices.

Photo-switched magnetic coupling in spin-crossover complexes

This feature article summarizes the recent progress in the magnetically coupled spin-crossover (SCO) complexes. The photo-switched molecular nanomagnet property, long range magnetic ordering, and the perspectives of SCO complexes are also presented.

Charge transfer and slow magnetic relaxation in a series of cyano-bridged FeIII4MII2 (M = FeII, CoII, NiII) molecules

The synthesis, single-crystal structures and magnetic properties of three new cyano-bridged complexes [FeIII4MII2] (M = Fe^II, Co^II, Ni^II) are reported.

Wide Magnetic Thermal Memory Effect (∼55 K) Above Room Temperature Coupled to a Structure Phase Transition of Lattice Symmetry Reduction in High-Temperature Phase in an S = 1/2 Spin Chain Molecule Crystal

One-dimensional (1D) S = 1/2 Heisenberg antiferromagnetic (AFM) chain system shows frequently a spin-Peierls-type transition owing to strong spin-lattice coupling. From high-temperature phase (HTP) to low-temperature phase (LTP), the spin chain distortion leads to the reduction in lattice symmetry in LTP, called the symmetry breaking (SB) phase transition. Herein, we report the first example of 1D S = 1/2 AFM molecular crystal, [Et₃( n-Pr)N][Ni(dmit)₂] (Et₃( n-Pr)N⁺ = triethylpropylammonium, dmit^2- = 2-thioxo-1,3-dithiole-4,5-dithiolate), which shows a structural phase transition with lattice symmetry increase in LTP, which is contrary to the SB phase transition. Particularly, the structure phase transition leads to magnetically bistable state with T_C↑ ≈ 375 K, T_C↓ ≈ 320 K, and surprisingly large thermal hysteresis (∼55 K). Additionally, LTP and HTP coexist in a temperature region near T_C but not at T_C in this 1D spin system. The large hysteresis is related to the huge deformation of anion stack, which needs high activation energy for the structure transformation and magnetic transition between LTP and HTP. This study would not only provide new insight into the relationship of spin-Peierls-type transition and structure phase transition but also offer a roadmap for searching molecular-scale magnetic bistable materials, which are in huge demand in future electronic, magnetic, and photonic technologies.

Coexistence of Magnetic-Optic-Electric Triple Switching and Thermal Energy Storage in a Multifunctional Plastic Crystal of Trimethylchloromethyl Ammonium Tetrachloroferrate(III)

Driven by the rapidly increasing demand for technological applications, multifunctional materials have been one important research area, which are expected to enhance the capacity and versatility of materials in various applications. Nevertheless, combining more than three functions in one molecular compound is still a challenge. Molecular solid-solid phase transition materials could exhibit switchable properties, which could have potential applications such as switches, sensors, and memory devices. However, these switchable molecular materials are rarely researched as thermal energy storage materials. In this work, we report the coexistence of thermal energy storage and magnetic-optic-electric triple switching in a plastic crystal, trimethylchloromethyl ammonium tetrachloroferrate(III), ([(CH₃)₃NCH₂Cl][FeCl₄], referred to as 1). 1 undergoes plastic phase transition at near room temperature (326 K) induced by the order-disorder of the ions. The magnetic-optic-electric triple switching in 1 could be triggered by temperature stimuli near room temperature. Meanwhile, with utilization of large latent heat during the phase transition process and sensible heat, the energy storage in 1 is up to 107 J g^-1 from 293 to 343 K, demonstrating its thermal energy storage application in solar energy systems and industrial sectors. This work particularly exhibits the advantages of plastic molecular materials as thermal energy storage materials and introduces the thermal energy storage into the multi-switchable plastic phase transition molecular materials, which will give extra flexibility for the design of new types of multifunctional materials.

Atomically Thin Two-Dimensional Nanosheets with Tunable Spin-Crossover Properties

Combining the fascinating advantages of ultrathin two-dimensional (2D) nanosheets with the nanostructuration of spin-crossover (SCO) materials represents an attractive target of controlled fabrication of SCO nano-objects at the device level. Here, we demonstrate that through facile-operating ultrasonic force-assisted liquid exfoliation technology the three-dimensional (3D) van der Waals SCO bulk precursor {[Fe(1,3-bpp)₂(NCS)₂]₂ (1, 1,3-bpp = 1,3-di(4-pyridyl)-propane)} can be exfoliated into single-layered 2D nanosheets (NS-1). As a consequence, the magnetism has been tuned from complete paramagnetic (bulk precursors) to SCO transition at around 250 K (2D nanosheets). In addition, the metal-to-ligand charge transition (MLCT), the intraligand π-π* transition and the color display also have been altered both in colloidal suspension and in the solid state. These dramatic changes of physical-chemical properties at different forms and states can be attributed to the efficient cooperativity derived from the interlayer van der Waals interactions within the curly or vertically stacked 2D building blocks.