Journal Article

PUBDB-2025-01136

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Capturing ultrafast molecular motions and lattice dynamics in spin crossover film using femtosecond diffraction methods

Vinci, D. ; Ridier, K. ; Qi, F. ; Ardana-Lamas, F. ; Zalden, P. ; Liu, L. C. ; Eklund, T. ; Jakobsen, M. S. ; Schubert, R. ; Khakhulin, D. ; Deiter, C. ; Bottin, N. ; Yousef, H. ; von Stetten, D. ; Łaski, P. ; Kamiński, R. ; Jarzembska, K. N. ; Wallick, R. F. ; Stensitzki, T. ; van der Veen, R. M. ; Müller-Werkmeister, H. M. ; Molnár, G. ; Xiang, D. ; Milne, C. ; Lorenc, M. ; Jiang, Y. (Corresponding author)CFEL*MPG*XFEL.EU*

2025
Springer Nature [London]

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1038/s41467-025-57202-0  doi:10.3204/PUBDB-2025-01136

Abstract: A comprehensive insight into ultrafast dynamics of photo-switchable materials is desired for efficient control of material properties through light excitation. Here, we study a polycrystalline spin crossover thin film as a prototypical example and reveal the sequential photo-switching dynamics, from local molecular rearrangement to global lattice deformation. On the earliest femtosecond timescale, the local molecular structural rearrangement occurs within a constant unit-cell volume through a two-step process, involving initial Fe−ligand bond elongation followed by ligand rotation. The highly-oriented structure of the nanocrystalline films and the experimental geometry enables resolving the full anisotropic lattice structural dynamics in and out of the sample plane separately. While both molecular switching and lattice heating influence lattice volume, they exert varying degrees of impact at disparate time scales following photoexcitation. This study highlights the opportunities provided by Mega-electron-volt electron and X-ray free electron laser to advance the understanding of ultrafast dynamics of photo-switchable materials.

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. FXE (XFEL_E1_FXE)
2. EMBL-User (EMBL-User)

Research Program(s):

1. 6G13 - Accelerator of European XFEL (POF4-6G13) (POF4-6G13)
2. DFG project G:(GEPRIS)390540038 - EXC 2008: Unifying Systems in Catalysis "UniSysCat" (390540038) (390540038)
3. SFB 1636 A01 - Verständnis und Steuerung des Nichtgleichgewichts-Energieflusses in Metall-Molekül-Hybriden auf der Nanoskala (A01) (535968684) (535968684)

Experiment(s):

1. Experiments at XFEL
2. PETRA Beamline P14 (PETRA III)

Appears in the scientific report 2025

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Database coverage:
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