Directly probing spin dynamics in a molecular magnet with femtosecond time-resolution

We show that a vanadium–chromium Prussian blue analogue, which is a room-temperature molecule-based magnet, displays a fast magnetic response on a femtosecond timescale that is attributed to the super-exchange interaction between the metal ions. These dynamics are obtained from femtosecond Faraday magneto-optical (MO) measurements, performed at 50 and 300 K. Exciting at the ligand-to-metal charge-transfer (LMCT) band results in the formation of the (2)E excited state on the Cr ion via intersystem crossing (ISC) from the (4)LMCT state in less than 250 fs. Subsequent vibrational relaxation in the (2)E state occurs on a 0.78 ± 0.05 ps timescale at 50 K and 1.1 ± 0.1 ps at 300 K. The MO measurements can detect the formation of the (2)E state on the Cr ion from the change in the super-exchange interaction taking place as a result of the corresponding spin flip associated with the formation of the (2)E state. These results open up a new avenue to study molecular magnets using a powerful method that is capable of directly probing spin dynamics on a sub-picosecond timescale in thin film environments.