Project description DEENESFRITPL Optical switches and storage devices could benefit from light-driven spin-crossover molecules Funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the Photo SCO LCs project aims to develop soft magnetic materials that combine spin crossover, photochromism and a liquid crystal phase. Using an external stimulus (e.g. temperature, light or pressure), researchers will cause a spin transition to the so-called Fe(II) spin crossover molecule. The molecule will then be decorated with long alkyl chains covalently inserted by the azobenzene that displays both liquid crystal and photochromic properties. The reversible cis–trans conformational change of the photochromic unit should affect the coordination sphere of the Fe(II) centre and should cause a ligand-driven light-induced spin change. The newly fabricated materials could find use in optical storage devices and optical switch prototypes. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective This proposal aims at developing a series of photoresponsive magnetic soft materials through the combination of spincrossover (SCO) property, photochromic property and liquid crystal (LC) property in a single material. The SCO property comes from the switchable electronic state between high-spin (HS, S = 2) and low-spin (LS, S = 0) state of the Fe(II) center in an octahedral coordination sphere under an external stimuli (e.g. temperature, light and pressure) and display an interconversion between diamagnetism and paramagnetism. The SCO molecules will be further decorated with long alkyl chains, which are covalently inserted by azobenzene group as photochromic unit, to display both LC and photochromic properties. The reversible cis/trans conformational change of photochromic unit is expected to change the coordination sphere of Fe(II) center and intermolecular interactions in LC systems, thus tuning the ligand field and SCO cooperativity and giving novel ligand-driven light-induced spin change effect (LD LISC) behavior. Moreover, if compared to traditional solid crystalline materials, the obtained materials will show superior characteristics, such as reversibility, faster response, and improved fabricability, allowed by the flexible nature of LCs. The obtained photoresponsive SCO LC materials will have multidisciplinary applications in prototypes of optical memory devices, displays, sensors, and switches, etc. The proposal designed by the researcher and host will make a contribution and promotion in the development of multifunctional molecular magnets, especially of photomagnetic materials. Fields of science engineering and technologymaterials engineeringcrystalsengineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensorsengineering and technologymaterials engineeringliquid crystals Keywords Spin-crossover SCO Liquid crystal LC Photochromism Photomagnetism LD LISC Azobenzene Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2020 - Individual Fellowships Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2020 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF) Coordinator CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRS Net EU contribution € 196 707,84 Address RUE MICHEL ANGE 3 75794 Paris France See on map Region Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Paris Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 196 707,84
