Switching of Molecular Spin States in Inorganic Complexes by Temperature, Pressure, Magnetic Field and Light: Towards Molecular Devices

Abstract The spin crossover phenomenon in molecular inorganic compounds is one of the most spectacular examples of bistability phenomena leading to a switching between the high‐spin and the low‐spin states of the molecule by several means such as temperature, pressure, light and magnetic field (multi‐property molecular switching). In the present microreview we report our most important findings, both experimental results and theoretical approaches, and discuss possible technological applications for each switching method as well as the recent synthesis of new spin crossover molecular materials. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2004)