Complete temperature study of the relaxation from the high-spin state to low-spin state in a strongly cooperative spin crossover compound

• Published in: Chemical physics letters Vol. 415; no. 4; pp. 206 - 210
• Main Authors: Degert, J., Lascoux, N., Montant, S., Létard, S., Freysz, E., Chastanet, G., Létard, J.-F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 11-11-2005; Elsevier
• Subjects: Chemical Sciences; Material chemistry; Low spin; Transition system; Temperature; High spin; Hysteresis; Photo-induced effect
• ISSN: 0009-2614; 1873-4448
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cplett.2005.09.007

Using two complementary techniques, the relaxation of a photo-induced spin state transition in a strongly cooperative compound has been studied from 10 to 170
K. Up to 150
K, the relaxation rate increases with temperature. At higher temperature, the stabilization of the high-spin state results in a decrease of the relaxation rate. Within the hysteresis loop, as one approaches the switching temperature branch, a critical slowing down of the kinetics and a constant decrease of the cooperative contribution are recorded. This study evidences, for the first time, the complex temperature evolution of the relaxation of photo-induced spin state transition.