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Here we describe the elaboration and investigation of composites prepared from the spin-crossover (SCO) complex [Fe(pyrazine){Au(CN) 2 } 2 ] and poly(vinylidene fluoride) matrix, with different contents of the active phase (10–35 wt%). Optical measurements demonstrated that all composites preserve temperature induced hysteretic spin transitions. Tensile mechanical analysis showed a non-linear change of the Young's modulus upon increase of the complex content. Thermomechanical analysis upon a constant strain demonstrated pronouncable alterations of the applied stress in the SCO region. Composites with smaller loads require less stress to attain a given strain in the high-spin state, however for those with high loads the behaviour is more sophisticated. The modelling of stress vs. temperature behaviour revealed that this may be interpreted through a miscellaneous interplay of expansion of both the polymer and the complex, the contribution of both components to the elastic properties of composites, and the effects of SCO on these properties. [Display omitted] • Insertion of a spin-crossover complex into PVDF leads to switchable composites. • Reinforcement of the films with low loads of the complex is observed. • Thermomechanical behaviour of composites reveals mechanical effects of SCO. • Basic tensile properties of SCO composites are emerged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a series of meltable FeII complexes, which, depending on the length of aliphatic chains, display abrupt forward low‐spin to high‐spin transition or unprecedented melting‐triggered reverse high‐spin to low‐spin transition on temperature rise. The reverse spin transition is perfectly reproducible on thermal cycling and the obtained materials are easily processable in the form of thin film owing to their soft‐matter nature. We found that the discovered approach represents a potentially generalizable new avenue to control both the location in temperature and the direction of the spin transition in meltable compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a series of meltable FeII complexes, which, depending on the length of aliphatic chains, display abrupt forward low‐spin to high‐spin transition or unprecedented melting‐triggered reverse high‐spin to low‐spin transition on temperature rise. The reverse spin transition is perfectly reproducible on thermal cycling and the obtained materials are easily processable in the form of thin film owing to their soft‐matter nature. We found that the discovered approach represents a potentially generalizable new avenue to control both the location in temperature and the direction of the spin transition in meltable compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]