Switching of spin-state complexes induced by the interaction of a laser beam with their host matrix

W. Hellel (1) , A. Ould Hamouda (1) , Jérôme Degert (1) , Jean-François Létard (2) , Eric Freysz (1)

1 LOMA - Laboratoire Ondes et Matière d'Aquitaine
2 ICMCB - Institut de Chimie de la Matière Condensée de Bordeaux

We demonstrate that the interaction of a CO2 laser with a host matrix, in which spin-crossover compounds are diluted, makes it possible to induce a low-spin-to-high-spin transition. The phenomenon is demonstrated for two different compounds diluted in a commercial polymer. The photo-induced transition is due to laser-induced heating of the host-matrix, which results in a localized modification of the properties of the sample. This phenomenon is reversible, and its kinetics are well accounted for by a simple model. This process makes it possible to write optical information at a high speed and to erase it in such materials.

Domaines: Optique [physics.optics]

W. Hellel, A. Ould Hamouda, Jérôme Degert, Jean-François Létard, Eric Freysz. Switching of spin-state complexes induced by the interaction of a laser beam with their host matrix. Applied Physics Letters, 2013, 103 (14), pp.143304 (1-5). ⟨10.1063/1.4824028⟩. ⟨hal-00877862⟩