Electronic transport properties of spin-crossover polymer plus polyaniline composites with Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles

Adding Fe3O4 nanoparticles to composites of [Fe(Htrz)(2)(trz)](BF4) spin-crossover polymer and polyaniline (PANI) drives a phase separation of both and restores the molecular structure and cooperative effects of the spin-crossover polymer without compromising the increased conductivity gained through the addition of PANI. We observe an increased on-off ratio for the DC conductivity owing to an enlarged off state resistivity and a 20 times larger AC conductivity of the on state compared with DC values. The Fe3O4 nanoparticles, primarily confined to the [Fe(Htrz)(2)(trz)](BF4) phase, are ferromagnetically coupled to the local moment of the spin-crossover molecule suggesting the existence of an exchange interaction between both components.