Dear Colleagues,

The crystal chemistry of spin crossover (SCO) behavior in inorganic compounds might be potentially associated with smart materials, promising materials for applications as components of memory devices, displays and sensors. 3-d block transition metal coordination compounds with d⁴–d⁷ configuration in an octahedral crystal field have the possibility to exhibit SCO phenomena between the low spin (LS) and the high spin (HS) states, being accompanied by color changes. Octahedral Fe(II) SCO systems with 3d⁶, which can be transited between the diamagnetic (t_2g)⁶ and the paramagnetic (t_2g)⁴(e_g)² configuration, might be widely and deeply investigated as smart materials. Fe(III) SCO compounds are also important and valuable materials. Spin crossover in Mn(II), Mn(III), Cr(II), Co(II), and Co(III) coordination compounds might be associated with unusual magnetic properties.

Inorganic materials, including coordination complexes with bistable systems between the LS and the HS states, usually triggered by external stimuli, such as temperature, light, pressure, and guest molecule inclusion, are a family of potential candidates for smart materials because the change of the crystal cell volume between the HS and LS states is very large. Various SCO iron(II) coordination compounds, especially those with polymeric 1D, 2D, and 3D frameworks, have been intensively investigated because their polymeric linked framework structures enhance cooperative effects which work among the SCO species, resulting in SCO behavior with large hysteresis and transition temperature ranges near RT.

The interdisciplinary regions chemistry related to spin crossover phenomena are also welcome.

We are hoping to offer a portal for some of this exciting new research associated with spin crossover phenomena, in association with multiproperty materials and functional materials in an attractive and valuable Special Issue of the open access journal, Crystals.

Prof. Dr. Takafumi Kitazawa
Prof. Dr. Takashi Kosone
Guest Editors

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• Spin crossover
• High spin
• Low spin
• Switching magnetic materials
• Sensor
• Smart materials
• Supuramolecular coordination polymer
• Inclusion compounds with magnetism

• Synthesis and Applications of New Spin Crossover Compounds in Crystals (19 articles)