Abstract
We investigate the out-of-equilibrium switching dynamics of a molecular Fe(III) spin-crossover solid triggered by a femtosecond laser flash. The time-resolved x-ray diffraction and optical results show that the dynamics span from subpicosecond local photoswitching followed by volume expansion (nanosecond) and thermal switching (microsecond). We present a physical picture of the consecutive steps in the photoswitching of molecular materials.
- Received 25 July 2008
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.103.028301
©2009 American Physical Society