Reversible Phototuning of Ferromagnetism at Au–S Interfaces at Room Temperature

Out of nowhere: Significant photoinduced changes in ferromagnetism have been observed at the interfaces between gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) and azobenzene-derivatized thiols. These photomagnetic effects could be attributed to photoinduced changes in d-charge losses resulting from the photoisomerization of the azo ligands (see picture), which are accompanied by the inversion of surface dipoles to the opposite sign.