Structural and Magnetic Interplay in Molecule-based Magnets with Photocontrollable Properties

Understanding the cooperative effects, such as electron-lattice interactions, in molecule-based magnetic coordination complexes possessing photoinduced phase transitions is an important step to being able to rationally tune the variables governing the process.\footnote{H.~Watanabe \emph{et al.}, Phys.~Rev.~B {\bf 79} (2009) 180405.} Specifically, variable temperature FTIR spectroscopy and magnetometry have been used to explore the temperature and photocontrollable spin transitions in Co-Fe Prussian blue analogues, $A_j$Co$_k$[Fe(CN)$_6$]$_{\ell}\cdot n$H$_2$O, where $A$ is an alkali ion, and in new Fe spin-crossover complexes. By studying nanoparticles\footnote{M.F.~Dumont \emph{et al.}, Inorg.~Chem., submitted.} and heterostructures,\footnote{D.M.~Pajerowski \emph{et al.}, J.~Am.~Chem.~Soc.~{\bf 132} (2010) 4058.} the data provide insight into the roles played by restricted lattice geometries and strain-pressure effects.