Spin crossover phenomenon of a semi-fluorinated iron (II) complex organized in a Langmuir–Blodgett film

A new amphiphilic iron (II) complex bearing semi-fluorinated chains has been organized in Langmuir and Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) films. This molecule forms a perfectly stable monolayer at the gas–water interface. Such a film can be transferred easily onto a solid substrate leading to well-defined multilayers. The spin crossover phenomenon occurring in this material has been studied by infrared spectroscopy and magnetization measurements. In the LB film architecture, the iron complex appears to be quenched in a high spin state. This quenching can be released after a thermal annealing and is therefore associated to the specific organization induced by the LB technique.