Direct Control of Spin Distribution and Anisotropy in Cu-Dithiolene Complex Anions by Light

Abstract

Electrical and magnetic properties are dominated by the (de)localization and the anisotropy in the distribution of unpaired electrons in solids. In molecular materials, these properties have been indirectly controlled through crystal structures using various chemical modifications to affect molecular structures and arrangements. In the molecular crystals, since the energy band structures can be semi-quantitatively known using band calculations and solid state spectra, one can anticipate the (de)localization of unpaired electrons in particular bands/levels, as well as interactions with other electrons. Thus, direct control of anisotropy and localization of unpaired electrons by locating them in selected energy bands/levels would realize more efficient control of electrical and magnetic properties. In this work, it has been found that the unpaired electrons on Cu(II)-complex anions can be optically controlled to behave as anisotropically-delocalized electrons (under dark) or isotropically-localized electrons like free electrons (under UV), the latter of which has hardly been observed in the ground states of Cu(II)-complexes by any chemical modifications. Although the compounds examined in this work did not switch between conductors and magnets, these findings indicate that optical excitation in the [Cu(dmit)2]2− salts should be an effective method to control spin distribution and anisotropy.