Spin Crossover in Fe(II) Molecular Compounds — Mössbauer and µSR Investigations

The compound [Fe(ptz)6](C104)2 (ptz = 1-propyl-tetrazole) displays a complete and gradual spin crossover centred around 125 K as evidenced by magnetic and muon measurements over the temperature range ∼ 4.2–300 K. Although the crystal structure reveals only one crystallographic site, line broadening is observed in the Mossbauer spectra in the vicinity of the spin transition. The muon spin relaxation behaviour of this compound indicates that a structural transformation rather than dynamic processes may account for the observed spectral features. Both the Mossbauer and muon measurements are consistent with a mixture of high and low spin Fe ions in the transition region.