Triggering Two-Step Spin Bistability and Large Hysteresis in Spin Crossover Nanoparticles via Molecular Nanoengineering

Abstract

The local entrapment of the spin crossover complex Fe(II)-tris[2-(2′-pyridyl)benzimidazole] into the pluronic polymeric matrix (P123, PEG20–PPG70–PEG20, MW ∼ 5800) yielded the formation of magnetic nanoparticles of ∼26 nm (SCO-Np). Formation of SCO-Np was driven by the emergence of noncovalent interactions between the aromatic −NH group of the benzimidazole moieties present in Fe(II)-tris[2-(2′-pyridyl)benzimidazole] with the aliphatic ether (−O−) groups of the pluronic polymeric matrix. The nanoparticles show spin crossover behavior, two-step spin bistability, and wide magnetic hysteresis, expressed in the temperature range of 170–280 K (ΔTmax = 38 K). The neat SCO molecules, Fe(II)-tris[2-(2′-pyridyl)benzimidazole], on the contrary show only first-order spin transition and negligible hysteresis. The developed matrix-confinement approach of SCO molecules shown in this work yielded an unprecedented and significant improvement of the magnetic cooperativity compared to the neat spin crossover system, despit...