Single Laser Shot Spin State Switching of {Fe II (pz)[Pt(CN) 4 ]} Inside Thermal Hysteresis studied by x-ray diffraction

International audienceWe study by x-ray diffraction and optical microscopy the photoswitching, initiated by a single ns laser pulse, of the spin-crossover {Fe II (pz)[Pt(CN) 4 ]} material inside its thermal hysteresis. The single-crystal study shows that a complete conversion from low spin to high spin states can be reached with a single laser shot. Partial conversions obtained with weaker laser energy gives rise to HS domains. Our results indicate that the non-linear response to light excitation is mainly driven by the temperature jump of the crystal following laser excitation