Confined Growth of Spin Crossover Nanoparticles in Surfactant-Based Matrices: Enhancing Shape Anisotropy

The elaboration of spin crossover crystalline nanoparticles of [Fe(Htrz)(2)(trz)](BF4) (Htrz = 1,2,4-1H-triazole) by confined growth in surfactant based matrices, notably reverse microemulsions and reverse hexagonal liquid crystal phases, as templates is comparatively reported. The ability of the reverse microemulsions and liquid crystal phases to control the size, shape and crystal quality of the synthesized particles by tuning the ternary composition oil/surfactant/water of the template is discussed and characterized using SEM imaging, optical and Raman spectroscopy, small angle x-ray scattering, and powder x-ray diffraction.