Thermochromism and Magnetic Phase Transition in an Organic Radical 1,3,5-Trithia-2,4,6-Triazapentalenyl

Abstract

Thermochromic and magnetic properties of an organic radical, 1,3,5-trithia-2,4,6-triazapentalenyl (TTTA) crystal were investigated through polarized reflection and EPR measurements. TTTA shows a first-order magnetic phase transition with a wide thermal hysteresis loop near room temperature. The high temperature (HT) phase is paramagnetic due to a uniform one-dimensional stacking of the radical molecules, while the low temperature (LT) phase is diamagnetic due to strong dimerization along the stacking direction. The colors of the HT and LT phases are purple and green, respectively, and both phases show a strong dichroism. We also found that part of the LT phase changes to the HT phase by laser light irradiation. The experimental results suggest the possibility of optical control of magnetic bistabitity in TTTA crystal.