Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 11, 2026

Chemical Vapor Deposition of an Organic Magnet, Vanadium Tetracyanoethylene
Published on: July 3, 2015
W-Co discrete complex exhibiting photo- and thermo-induced magnetisation
Abhishake Mondal1, Lise-Marie Chamoreau, Yanling Li
1Institut Parisien de Chimie Moléculaire, UMR7201, UPMC, Univ. Paris 6, Sorbonne Universités, 4 place Jussieu, 75005 Paris, France.
Abstract:
Molecular (photo)switch: A W-Co photomagnetic discrete complex can be prepared through the self-assembly of preformed building blocks. [Co(bik)3][{W(CN)8}3{Co(bik)2}3]⋅2 H2O⋅13 CH3CN (see figure) exhibits a thermally-induced electron-transfer-coupled spin transition between the two states: Co(HS)(II)-W(V)↔Co(LS)(III)-W(IV). It also shows photomagnetic effects at low temperature.
Related Concept Videos
Colors and Magnetism
When atoms or molecules absorb light at the proper frequency, their electrons are excited to higher-energy orbitals. For many main group atoms and molecules, the absorbed photons are in the ultraviolet range of the electromagnetic spectrum, which cannot be detected by the human eye. For coordination compounds, the energy difference between the d orbitals often allows photons in the visible range to be absorbed and emitted, which is seen as colors by the human eye.
Valence Bond Theory
Atomic Nuclei: Magnetic Resonance
Atomic Nuclei: Nuclear Relaxation Processes
Ferromagnetism
Diamagnetism
Diamagnetism was discovered by Anton Brugmans in 1778 when he observed that bismuth gets repelled by magnetic fields, thus theorizing that diamagnets get repelled by magnets.
