CNR ExploRA

Articolo in rivista, 2019, ENG, 10.1039/c9nr05947d

Surface effects on a photochromic spin-crossover iron(ii) molecular switch adsorbed on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite

Poggini L.; Londi G.; Milek M.; Naim A.; Lanzilotto V.; Cortigiani B.; Bondino F.; Magnano E.; Otero E.; Sainctavit P.; Arrio M.-A.; Juhin A.; Marchivie M.; Khusniyarov M.M.; Totti F.; Rosa P.; Mannini M.

Department of Chemistry Ugo Schiff, INSTM Research Unit of Firenze, University of Firenze, Sesto Fiorentino, I-50019, Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff" and INSTM Research Unit of Firenze, University of Firenze I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino Italy, , Italy; Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Egerlandstr. 1, Erlangen, 91058, Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) Egerlandstr. 1 91058 Erlangen Germany, , Germany; CNRS, Univ. Bordeaux, ICMCB, UMR, Pessac, F-33600, CNRS, Univ. Bordeaux, ICMCB, UMR F-33600 Pessac France, , , , France; CNRS, Univ. Bordeaux, ICMCB, UMR, Pessac, F-33600, CNRS, Univ. Bordeaux, ICMCB, UMR F-33600 Pessac France, , , , France; CNRS, Univ. Bordeaux, ICMCB, UMR, Pessac, F-33600, CNRS, Univ. Bordeaux, ICMCB, UMR F-33600 Pessac France, , , , France; CNR-IOM, Laboratorio TASC, Basovizza SS-14 Km 163.5, Trieste, 34149, CNR-IOM, Laboratorio TASC Basovizza SS-14 Km 163.5 34149 Trieste Italy, , , Italy; CNR-IOM, Laboratorio TASC, Basovizza SS-14 Km 163.5, Trieste, 34149, CNR-IOM, Laboratorio TASC Basovizza SS-14 Km 163.5 34149 Trieste Italy, , , Italy; Synchrotron SOLEIL l'Orme des Merisiers, Saint Aubin BP 48 91192, Gif sur Yvette, Synchrotron SOLEIL L'Orme des Merisiers Saint Aubin BP 48 91192 Gif sur Yvette France, , France; IMPMC-UMR7590, CNRS, Sorbonne Université MNHN, 4 place Jussieu, Paris, 75005, IMPMC-UMR7590, CNRS, Sorbonne université MNHN 4 place Jussieu 75005 Paris France, , , , , France; IMPMC-UMR7590, CNRS, Sorbonne Université MNHN, 4 place Jussieu, Paris, 75005, IMPMC-UMR7590, CNRS, Sorbonne université MNHN 4 place Jussieu 75005 Paris France, , , , , France; IMPMC-UMR7590, CNRS, Sorbonne Université MNHN, 4 place Jussieu, Paris, 75005, IMPMC-UMR7590, CNRS, Sorbonne université MNHN 4 place Jussieu 75005 Paris France, , , , , France; IMPMC-UMR7590, CNRS, Sorbonne Université MNHN, 4 place Jussieu, Paris, 75005, IMPMC-UMR7590, CNRS, Sorbonne université MNHN 4 place Jussieu 75005 Paris France, , , , , France

Thin films of an iron(ii) complex with a photochromic diarylethene-based ligand and featuring a spin-crossover behaviour have been grown by sublimation in ultra-high vacuum on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite and spectroscopically characterized through high-resolution X-ray and ultraviolet photoemission, as well as via X-ray absorption. Temperature-dependent studies demonstrated that the thermally induced spin-crossover is preserved at a sub-monolayer (0.7 ML) coverage. Although the photochromic ligand ad hoc integrated into the complex allows the photo-switching of the spin state of the complex at room temperature both in bulk and for a thick film on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite, this photomagnetic effect is not observed in sub-monolayer deposits. Ab initio calculations justify this behaviour as the result of specific adsorbate-substrate interactions leading to the stabilization of the photoinactive form of the diarylethene ligand over photoactive one on the surface.

Nanoscale (Print) 11 (42), pp. 20006–20014