Room-Temperature Bistability in Spin Crossover-Loaded Metal-Organic Frameworks

In this article, we present an unprecedented strategy to prepare bistable porous nanocrystals based on the anchoring of switchable molecules in the pores of a host matrix through strong host-guest interactions. More precisely, we have inserted a prototypical Fe(III) spin-crossover complex in MOF-808, a chemically robust large-pore Zr-based MOF. The loaded nanocrystals present a hysteretic thermal spin transition close to room temperature that is independent of the complex loading and the MOF particle size while remaining highly porous, which opens up opportunities for their use as chemical sensors.