RESUMEN
Polymer composites of molecular spin crossover complexes have emerged as promising mechanical actuator materials, but their effective thermomechanical properties remain elusive. In this work, we investigated a series of iron(ii)-triazole@P(VDF-TrFE) particulate composites using a tensile testing stage with temperature control. From these measurements, we assessed the temperature dependence of the Young's modulus as well as the free deformation and blocking stress, associated with the thermally-induced spin transition. The results denote that the expansion of the particles at the spin transition is effectively transferred to the macroscopic composite material, providing ca. 1-3% axial strain for 25% particle load. This strain is in excess of the 'neat' particle strain, which we attribute to particle-matrix mechanical coupling. On the other hand, the blocking stress (â¼1 MPa) appears reduced by the softening of the composite around the spin transition temperature.
RESUMEN
Bilayer spin crossover (SCO)@polymer nanocomposites show robust and controllable actuation cycles upon an electrical stimulus. The anisotropic shape of the embedded particles as well as the mechanical coupling between the SCO particles and the matrix can substantially intensify the work output of the actuators.
RESUMEN
The thermally induced spin-crossover (SCO) phenomenon in transition metal complexes is an entropy-driven process, which has been extensively studied through calorimetric methods. Yet, the excess heat capacity associated with the molecular spin-state switching has never been explored for practical applications. Herein, the thermal damping effect of an SCO film is experimentally assessed by monitoring the transient heating response of SCO-coated metallic microwires, Joule-heated by current pulses. A damping of the wire temperature, up to 10%, is evidenced on a time scale of tens of microseconds due to the spin-state switching of the molecular film. Fast heat-charging dynamics and negligible fatigability are demonstrated, which, together with the solid-solid nature of the spin transition, appear as promising features for achieving thermal energy management applications in functional devices.
RESUMEN
The complex dielectric permittivity of a series of spin crossover complexes, with variable ligand stoichiometry [Fe(Htrz)1+y-x (trz)2-y (NH2trz) x ](BF4) y ·nH2O, has been investigated as a function of temperature in a wide frequency range. In each compound, a substantial drop of the conductivity and permittivity is evidenced when going from the low spin to the high spin state, albeit with decreasing amplitude for increasing ligand substitution (i.e. for increasing x). The deconvolution of the dielectric spectra using the Havriliak-Negami equation allowed to extract the dipole and conductivity relaxation times, their distributions as well as the dielectric strengths in both spin states. Remarkably, no clear correlation appears between the conductivity changes and the lattice properties (Debye temperature) in the dilution series. We rationalize these results by considering the dimensionality of the system (1D), wherein the charge transport occurs most likely by hopping along the [Fe(Rtrz)3] n n+ chains.
RESUMEN
Multilayer crossbar junctions composed of ITO/[Fe(HB(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)3)2]/M (with M = Al or Ca) were fabricated and investigated for their resistance switching properties. Current-voltage-temperature maps revealed ON/OFF resistance ratios as high as 400, with the ON and OFF states defined, respectively, as the low-resistance, low spin state and the high-resistance, high spin state of the spin crossover layer. Similar results were obtained with Al and Ca cathodes indicating that the charge transport in the insulating spin crossover film is at the origin of the resistance switching instead of electron injection at the electrodes. The reproducibility and stability of the device properties were also studied.
RESUMEN
Thin films of the molecular spin-crossover complex [Fe(HB(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)3 )2 ] undergo spin transition above room temperature, which can be exploited in sensors, actuators, and information processing devices. Variable temperature viscoelastic mapping of the films by atomic force microscopy reveals a pronounced decrease of the elastic modulus when going from the low spin (5.2 ± 0.4 GPa) to the high spin (3.6 ± 0.2 GPa) state, which is also accompanied by increasing energy dissipation. This technique allows imaging, with high spatial resolution, of the formation of high spin puddles around film defects, which is ascribed to local strain relaxation. On the other hand, no clustering process due to cooperative phenomena was observed. This experimental approach sets the stage for the investigation of spin transition at the nanoscale, including phase nucleation and evolution as well as local strain effects.
RESUMEN
Spin-crossover nanomaterials have been actively studied in the past decade for their potential technological applications in sensing, actuating, and information processing devices. Unfortunately, an increasing number of the metallic centers become inactive at reduced sizes, presumably due to surface effects, limiting their switching ability and thus the scope of applications. Here we report on the investigation of "frozen" metallic centers in nanoparticles (2-80 nm size) of the spin-crossover compound Fe(pyrazine)[Ni(CN)4]. Magnetic measurements reveal both high-spin and low-spin residual fractions at atmospheric pressure. A pressure-induced transition of the high-spin residue is observed at around 1.5 GPa by synchrotron Mössbauer spectroscopy. We show that it is equivalent to a downshift of the transition temperature by ca. 400 K due to the size reduction. Unexpectedly, small-angle neutron scattering experiments demonstrate that these high-spin residual centers are not confined to the surface, which contradicts general theoretical considerations.
RESUMEN
A series of spin-crossover (SCO) coordination nanoparticles (ca. 60 nm) with the general formulae [Fe(Htrz)1+y-x(trz)2-y(NH2trz)x](BF4)y·nH2O (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3) were synthesized in concentrated solutions without using any surfactant or polymer. The nanoparticle powders were investigated by transmission electron microscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, magnetometry, calorimetry, Raman/IR spectroscopies, elemental analysis and 57Fe Mössbauer spectrometry. Remarkably, the latter revealed a large decrease of the lattice stiffness when incorporating a small amount of amino-triazole ligand, reflected by the drop of the Debye temperature from 285 K (x = 0) to 205 K (x = 0.3). This collapse of the lattice cohesion was attributed to a reorganization of the supramolecular interactions between the Fe-triazole chains. This effect on the SCO properties is also discussed.
RESUMEN
Spin crossover particles of formula [Fe{(Htrz)2 (trz)}0.9 (NH2 -trz)0.3 ](BF4 )1.1 and average size of 20 nm ± 8 nm are homogeneously dispersed in poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-trifluoro-ethylene), P(VDF-TrFE), and poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) matrices to form macroscopic (cm-scale), freestanding, and flexible nanocomposite materials. The composites exhibit concomitant thermal expansion and discharge current peaks on cycling around the spin transition temperatures, i.e., new "product properties" resulting from the synergy between the particles and the matrix. Poling the P(VDF-TrFE) (70-30 mol%) samples loaded with 25 wt% of particles in 18 MV m-1 electric field results in a piezoelectric coefficient d33 = -3.3 pC N-1 . The poled samples display substantially amplified discharges and altered spin transition properties. Analysis of mechanical and dielectric properties reveals that both strain (1%) and permittivity (40%) changes in the composite accompany the spin transition in the particles, giving direct evidence for strong electromechanical couplings between the components. These results provide a novel route for the deployment of molecular spin crossover materials as actuators in artificial muscles and generators in thermal energy harvesting devices.