Downsizing of Nanocrystals While Retaining Bistable Spin Crossover Properties in Three-Dimensional Hofmann-Type {Fe(pz)[Pt(CN)4]}-Iodine Adducts

Mastering nanostructuration of functional materials into electronic devices is presently an essential task in materials science. This is particularly relevant for spin crossover (SCO) compounds, whose properties are extremely sensitive to size reduction. Indeed, the search for materials displaying strong cooperative hysteretic SCO properties operative at the nanoscale close near room temperature is extremely challenging. In this context, we describe here the synthesis and characterization of 20-30 nm surfactant-free nanocrystals of the Fe-II Hofmann-type polymer {Fe-II(pz)[(PtIx)-I-II,IV(CN)(4)]} (pz = pyrazine), which affords the first example of a robust three-dimensional coordination polymer, substantially keeping operational thermally induced SCO bistability at such a scale.