Tristability in a Light-Actuated Single-Molecule Magnet

• DOI: 10.1021/ja407332y
• Publication Date: 2013-09-25T17:48:56Z
• Authors: Xiaowen Feng; Corine Mathonière; Ie-Rang Jeon; Mathieu Rouzières; Andrew Ozarowski; Michael L. Aubrey; Miguel I. Gonzalez; Rodolphe Clérac; Jeffrey R. Long
• Keywords: Bistability; Single-molecule magnet; Spin Crossover

Molecules exhibiting bistability have been proposed as elementary binary units (bits) for information storage, potentially enabling fast and efficient computing. In particular, transition metal complexes can display magnetic via either spin-crossover or single-molecule magnet behavior. We now show that the octahedral iron(II) in molecular salt [Fe(1-propyltetrazole)6](BF4)2, when placed its high-symmetry form, combine both types of Light irradiation under an applied field enables fully reversible switching between S = 0 state 2 with up (M(S) +2) down -2) polarities. The resulting tristability suggests possibility using molecules ternary storage direct analogy to current systems employ magneto-optical Kerr effect write read mechanisms.