Light-induced spin crossover—Solution and solid-state processes

Abstract

Abstract This article overviews the different light-induced spin-crossover processes that are induced using ligand photoreaction, photothermal effects, or optical absorption of the center metallic ion. A particular attention is drawn on the light-induced excited spin-state trapping effect, the most studied phenomenon, by discussing the recent developments in terms of description of the initial photoswitching process and the mechanisms developing at different time scales, as well as the lifetime of the photoinduced state.