Room temperature photochromism and photoinduced slow magnetic relaxation of cyanometallic supramolecular hybrid salts

Abstract

By incorporating diprotonated terpyridine cations and hexacyanometalate(III) anions into supramolecular hybrid salts, formulated as (HTPY)(H₂TPY)[M^III(CN)₆]·5H₂O where TPY = 2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine, M = Fe (1), Co(2), room temperature photoinduced electron transfer (PET) was achieved with the involvement of a [M^III(CN)₆]³⁻ ion. Characterization of the intrinsic nature unfolded unprecedented light-induced off→on magnetization and slow magnetic relaxation behaviour occurring for the M = Co analogue, which paves a promising way for photo-responsive multifunctional molecular materials.