Synthesis and structural characterization of three copper coordination polymers with pyridine derivatives from hydro(solvo)thermal in situ decarboxylation reactions of 2,5-dicarboxylpyridine

Highly Efficient White Emission from Semiconductor Ink Based on Copper Iodide Nanoclusters

Recent developments in the perovskite field have aimed at exploring cluster-based organic-inorganic copper(I) halides as novel luminescent materials because of their low toxicity and structural diversity. However, the poor framework stability and low dispersion in solvent constitute the key challenges to their practical applications such as luminescent inks. Herein, we report the preparation of highly luminescent inks via one-pot solution synthesis, which consisted of ionic Cu_mI_n clusters (tetrabutylammonium copper iodide) coupled with polymer polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). Benefiting from the high-affinity PVP to stabilize and disperse the Cu-I inorganic units, the obtained hybrid nanocrystals exhibit high structural stabilitiy/photostability and good dispersion in ethanol. The characteristics of bright white light emission from inks were explored by temperature-dependent photoluminescence experiments and theoretical calculations. Attractively, the stable, highly luminescent inks show great potential for practical applications, such as anticounterfeiting and imaging identification. Our study offers a new material designing strategy that may be generalized to many other material classes.

Family of Highly Luminescent Pure Ionic Copper(I) Bromide Based Hybrid Materials

While a number of highly luminescent copper(I) halide based hybrid materials built on coordinate bonds (Cu-L; L = N, P, S-based ligands) have been obtained, the poor structural stability largely limited their commercialization. In contrast, according to the previous studies, the ionic structures (L-free) are more stable than those built on Cu-L coordinate bonds. However, the extremely weak emission hinders their optical applications. Herein, we report a tetra-alkylammonium-cation-induced strategy for the synthesis of stable and highly luminescent ionic CuBr-based hybrid materials. It is interesting to find that the tetra-alkylammonium cations with different chains could induce diverse CuBr-based anions. Moreover, most of these CuBr-based hybrids are highly luminescent, which makes them promising candidates as an alternative to phosphors and with potential applications in sensing.

Alkyl Pyridinium Iodocuprate(I) Clusters: Structural Types and Charge Transfer Behavior

The reaction of copper(I) iodide (CuI) and N-alkyl pyridinium (RPy⁺, R = H, Me, Et, n-propyl = Pr, n-butyl = Bu, n-pentyl = Pn, and n-hexyl = Hx) or N-butyl-3-substituted pyridinium (N-Bu-3-PyX⁺, X = I, Br, Cl, CN, and OMe) iodide salts yielded pyridinium iodocuprate(I) salts. Crystal structures of iodocuprate ions coupled with RPy⁺ include {Cu₃I₆ ^3-} _n (R = H), {Cu₂I₃ ^-} _n (R = Me), {Cu₃I₄ ^-} _n (R = Et), {Cu₆I₈ ^2-} _n (R = Pr), and {Cu₅I₇ ^2-} _n (R = Bu, Pn, Hx). The [N-Bu-3-PyX]⁺ ions were typically paired with the 1-D chain {Cu₅I₇ ^2-} _n . Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy performed on the [N-Bu-3-PyX]⁺ iodocuprate salts revealed that increasing the electron withdrawing capacity of the [N-Bu-3-PyX]⁺ system reduced the absorption edge of the iodocuprate salt. Variable temperature emission spectra of several [N-Bu-3-PyX]⁺ compounds revealed two emission peaks, one consistent with a cluster-centered halide to metal charge transfer and the other consistent with an intermolecular mixed halide/metal charge transfer to the organic cation. The emission intensity and emission wavelength of the mixed halide/metal to cation charge transfer depends on the organic cation substitution.

Pyridinium salts: from synthesis to reactivity and applications

This review highlights the pyridinium salts in terms of their natural occurrence, synthesis, reactivity, biological properties, and diverse applications.

The structures, water stabilities and photoluminescence properties of two types of iodocuprate(i)-based hybrids

The effects of aromatic and aliphatic cations on the structure, water stability and photoluminescence of iodocuprate(i)-based materials were disclosed.

All-in-One: Achieving Robust, Strongly Luminescent and Highly Dispersible Hybrid Materials by Combining Ionic and Coordinate Bonds in Molecular Crystals

Extensive research has been pursued to develop low-cost and high-performance functional inorganic-organic hybrid materials for clean/renewable energy related applications. While great progress has been made in the recent years, some key challenges remain to be tackled. One major issue is the generally poor stability of these materials, which originates from relatively fragile/weak bonds between inorganic and organic constituents. Herein, we report a unique "all-in-one" (AIO) approach in constructing robust structures with desired properties. Such approach allows formation of both ionic and coordinate bonds within a molecular cluster, which greatly enhances structural stability while maintaining the molecular identity of the cluster and its high luminescence. The novel AIO structures are composed of various anionic (Cu_mI_m+n)^n- clusters and cationic N-ligands. They exhibit high luminescence efficiency, significantly improved chemical, thermal and moisture stability, and excellent solution processability. Both temperature dependent photoluminescence experiments and DFT calculations are performed to investigate the luminescence origin and emission mechanism of these materials, and their suitability as energy-saving LED lighting phosphors is assessed. This study offers a new material designing strategy that may be generalized to many other material classes.

Di-pyridyl organic cation directed hybrid cuprous halogenides: syntheses, crystal structures and photochromism and photocatalysis

A series of organic–inorganic hybrid cuprous halogenides have been solvothermally prepared and feature photochromism behavior and visible light driven photocatalytic activities.

New discrete iodometallates with in situ generated triimidazole derivatives as countercations (Mn+ = Ag+, Pb2+, Bi3+)

By employing solvothermal in situ N-alkylation of organic bases with alcohols, four new iodometallates were obtained, and their structures are reported.