Impact of downsizing the RbMnFe Prussian blue analog on the magnetic and non-linear optical properties

Overview & Synopsis

The Prussian blue analogue RbxMn[Fe(CN)6](x+2)/3.zH2O (RbMnFe) is highly multifunctional. The RbMnFe compounds (0.6 ≤ x ≤ 1) can switch between High Temperature (HT, with Mn(II)-Fe(III) pairs) and Low Temperature (LT, with Mn(III)- Fe(II) pairs) phases, thanks to a metal-metal electron transfer. This electron transfer is reversible and occurs with a memory effect over a 100 K temperature range, around room temperature. Moreover, both LT and HT structures are non-centrosymmetric, leading to nonlinear optical properties in both states and ferro-electricity. Despite its interest for integration in molecular electronic devices, synthesis of RbMnFe nanoparticles are very scarce. The current project targets the size reduction to the nanoscale of these compounds and to study how it impacts the switching properties and nonlinear optical properties. This work provides new insights and understanding of the RbMnFe system at the nanoscale before processing the compound into devices.