The polymer-supported N,N'-di(salicylidene)ethylenediaminatocobalt(II) [Co(
salen)] took up oxygen through 2/1 Co/dioxygen adduct formation. The compos
ite film of the polymer-supported [Co(salen)] and polymer layers reversibly
bent under an oxygen and nitrogen atmosphere. The stretching was caused by
a structural change in the [Co(salen)] crystal before and after the oxygen
-binding, which was analyzed based on the near-IR spectral and density chan
ge as well as EXAFS.