Surfaces, thin films and patterning of spin crossover compounds

Spin crossover compounds are multifunctional switching materials that change their spin state and many other physical properties, such as colour, magnetic susceptibility, electric conductivity, dielectric constant and mechanical properties, upon external stimuli. Spin crossover materials have been proposed for a variety of technological applications that require the elaboration of highly controlled thin films and patterns. Here, we present a brief overview of the most diffused approaches for thin film growth and patterning, showing both conventional and unconventional approaches and the most recent advancement in their applications, highlighting the most promising cases and the most critical problems.