Jean-Claude Ameline

Electronic and structural aspects of spin transitions observed by optical microscopy. The case of [Fe(ptz)6](BF4)2.

The colorimetric analysis of images recorded with an optical microscope during the onset of the spin crossover transformation allows monitoring separately the involved electronic and structural aspects, through the separation of resonant absorption and scattering effects. Complementary information can also be obtained by using the polarized modes of the microscope. These potentialities are illustrated by the observation of [Fe(ptz)(6)](BF(4))(2) single crystals during the onset of the thermal transitions in the 110-140 K range. We characterized the interplay between the electronic (HS <--> LS) and structural (order <--> disorder) transformations. Elastic stresses and mechanical effects (hopping, self-cleavage) generated by the volume change upon electronic transition are also illustrated, with their impact on the photoswitching properties of the crystals.

Self-Organization of Quantum Rods Induced by Lipid Membrane Corrugations

Self-organization of fluorescent nanoparticles, using biological molecules such as phospholipids to control assembly distances, is a promising method for creating hybrid nanostructures. We report here the formation of hybrid condensed phases made of anisotropic nanoparticles and phospholipids. Such structure formation is driven by electrostatic interaction between the nanoparticles and the phospholipids, and results in the formation of a 2D rectangular liquid crystal, as confirmed by high-resolution Small-Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS). Moreover, we show that the fluorescent properties of the NPs are not modified by the self-assembly process.

Control of metal-insulator transition in (EDO-TTF)2SbF6

We have examined the temperature dependence of optical reflectance spectra of (EDO-TTF)2SbF6 salt, and succeeded to detect the thermal hysteresis by the reflectance spectra. In order to investigate high pressure effects on the metal-insulator transition of SbF6 salt, we have performed Raman experiments under pressures up to 6 kbar. Drastic changes in the frequencies of charge sensitive C=C stretching modes suggested the pressure-induced reentrant metal-insulator-metal transition at room temperature.