[Ba4 (S2 )][ZnGa4 S10 ]: Design of an Unprecedented Infrared Nonlinear Salt-Inclusion Chalcogenide with Disulfide-Bonds

Salt-inclusion chalcogenides (SICs) have been receiving widespread attention due to their large second harmonic generation (SHG) responses and wide bandgaps, however most of them suffer from small birefringence limiting their technical application. Herein, by introducing the π-conjugated (S2 )2- units in the ionic guest of salt-inclusion structure, the first disulfide-bond-containing SIC, [Ba4 (S2 )][ZnGa4 S10 ] has been synthesized. It exhibits the widest bandgap up to 3.39 eV among polychalcogenides and strong SHG response as large as that of AgGaS2 (AGS). Importantly, its birefringence reaches a max value of 0.053@1064 nm among AGS-like SICs, indicating it is a promising IR nonlinear optical (NLO) material. Theoretical calculations reveal that the π-conjugated (S2 )2- units and covalent GaS layers favor the enhanced birefringence and large SHG response. This work provides not only a new type of SIC for the first time, but also new lights on the design of IR NLO materials.

Room-Temperature Solid-State Transformation of Na4 SnS4 ⋅ 14H2 O into Na4 Sn2 S6 ⋅ 5H2 O: An Unusual Epitaxial Reaction Including Bond Formation, Mass Transport, and Ionic Conductivity

A highly unusual solid-state epitaxy-induced phase transformation of Na₄ SnS₄  ⋅ 14H₂ O (I) into Na₄ Sn₂ S₆  ⋅ 5H₂ O (II) occurs at room temperature. Ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations indicate an internal acid-base reaction to form [SnS₃ SH]^3- which condensates to [Sn₂ S₆ ]^4- . The reaction involves a complex sequence of O-H bond cleavage, S^2- protonation, Sn-S bond formation and diffusion of various species while preserving the crystal morphology. In situ Raman and IR spectroscopy evidence the formation of [Sn₂ S₆ ]^4- . DFT calculations allowed assignment of all bands appearing during the transformation. X-ray diffraction and in situ ¹ H NMR demonstrate a transformation within several days and yield a reaction turnover of ≈0.38 %/h. AIMD and experimental ionic conductivity data closely follow a Vogel-Fulcher-Tammann type T dependence with D(Na)=6×10^-14  m²  s^-1 at T=300 K with values increasing by three orders of magnitude from -20 to +25 °C.

Directed Dehydration as Synthetic Tool for Generation of a New Na 4 SnS 4 Polymorph: Crystal Structure, Na + Conductivity, and Influence of Sb‐Substitution

We present the convenient synthesis and characterization of the new ternary thiostannate Na₄SnS₄ (space group I41/acd ) by directed removal of crystal water molecules from Na₄SnS₄⋅14 H₂O. The compound represents a new kinetically stable polymorph of Na₄SnS₄, which is transformed into the known, thermodynamically stable form (space group P4‾21c ) at elevated temperatures. Thermal co‐decomposition of mixtures with Na₃SbS₄⋅9 H₂O generates solid solution products Na_4−xSn_1−xSb_xS₄ (x=0.01, 0.10) isostructural to the new polymorph (x=0). Incorporation of Sb⁵⁺ affects the bonding and local structural situation noticeably evidenced by X‐ray diffraction, ¹¹⁹Sn and ²³Na NMR, and ¹¹⁹Sn Mössbauer spectroscopy. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy demonstrates an enormous improvement of the ionic conductivity with increasing Sb content for the solid solution (σ_25°C=2×10⁻³, 2×10⁻², and 0.1 mS cm⁻¹ for x=0, 0.01, and 0.10), being several orders of magnitude higher than for the known Na₄SnS₄ polymorph.

Ba6(CuxZy)Sn4S16 (Z = Mg, Mn, Zn, Cd, In, Bi, Sn): High Chemical Flexibility Resulting in Good Nonlinear-Optical Properties

Seven acentric sulfides Ba₆(Cu_xZ_y)Sn₄S₁₆ (Z = Mg, Mn, Zn, Cd, In, Bi, Sn) were grown by a high-temperature salt flux method. The crystal structures of the Ba₆(Cu_xZ_y)Sn₄S₁₆ (Z = Mg, Mn, Zn, Cd, In, Bi, Sn) compounds were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction with the aid of solid-state NMR spectroscopy. The Ba₆(Cu_xZ_y)Sn₄S₁₆ (Z = Mg, Mn, Zn, Cd, In, Bi) compounds are isostructural and crystallize in the Ba₆Ag₄Sn₄S₁₆ structure type. The Sn-containing compound exhibits high structural similarity to Ba₆(Cu_xZ_y)Sn₄S₁₆ (Z = Mg, Mn, Zn, Cd, In, Bi) with the presence of an interstitial atomic position partially occupied by Sn atoms. The chemical bonding characteristics of Ba₆(Cu_2.9Sn_0.4)Sn₄S₁₆ were understood with electron localization function calculations coupled with crystal orbital Hamilton population calculations. The Ba-S and Cu-S interactions are dominantly ionic, but the Sn-S interactions consist of strong covalent bonding characteristics in Ba₆(Cu_2.9Sn_0.4)Sn₄S₁₆. The monovalent Cu atoms, mixed with certain metals with various oxidation states, significantly shift the optical properties of the Ba₆(Cu_xZ_y)Sn₄S₁₆ (Z = Mg, Mn, Zn, Cd, In, Bi) compounds. This results in a good balance between the second-harmonic-generation (SHG) response and laser damage threshold (LDT). Ba₆(Cu_1.9Zn_1.1)Sn₄S₁₆ possesses a high SHG response and a high LDT of 2.8 × AGS and 3 × AGS, respectively. A density functional theory calculation revealed that CuS₄ and SnS₄ tetrahedra significantly contribute to the SHG response in Ba₆(Cu₂Mg)Sn₄S₁₆, which also confirmed that CuS₄ tetrahedra are crucial for the stability and optical properties of the Ba₆(Cu_xZ_y)Sn₄S₁₆ (Z = Mg, Mn, Zn, Cd, In, Bi, Sn) compounds revealed by electronic structure analysis.

Quaternary Noncentrosymmetric Rare-Earth Sulfides Ba4RE2Cd3S10 (RE = Sm, Gd, or Tb): A Joint Experimental and Theoretical Investigation

Multinary rare-earth chalcogenides with d-block transition metals have attracted considerable attention owing to their intriguing structural architectures and promising practical applications. In this work, three quaternary rare-earth sulfides, Ba₄RE₂Cd₃S₁₀ (RE = Sm, Gd, or Tb), have been obtained by the high-temperature solid-state method. These compounds are isostructural and belong to the noncentrosymmetric orthorhombic space group Cmc2₁ (No. 36). The basic structural unit contains unique two-dimensional anionic [RE₂Cd₃S₁₀]^8- layers, which are separated by Ba²⁺ cations. Remarkably, Ba₄Sm₂Cd₃S₁₀ exhibits a high second-harmonic-generation intensity (1.8 times that of AgGaS₂) and a significantly higher laser-induced damage threshold (14.3 times that of AgGaS₂), which is the first case possessing an infrared (IR) nonlinear optical (NLO) property in the quaternary AE/RE/TM/Q (AE = alkaline-earth metals; RE = rare-earth metals; TM = d-block transition metals; and Q = chalcogen) systems. Moreover, theoretical investigations of the structure-property relationship indicate that the combined action of various types of NLO-active units makes the main contribution to the SHG activity. This discovery may shed light on broadening the frontiers of IR-NLO materials.

Na2MgSnS4 – a new member of the A 2 I B II C IV X 4 family of compounds

A new member of the A 2 I B II C IV X 4 compound family, Na2MgSnS4, has been synthesized by ball milling of the binary sulfides SnS, Na2S, and MgS with elemental sulfur in a high-energy planetary mill, followed by annealing in an atmosphere of H2S (T = 600 °C/3 h). Na2MgSnS4 adopts the NaCrS2-type structure (rhombohedral, space group R 3 ¯ $\overline{3}$ m) with a = 3.7496(11) and c = 19.9130(6) Å. The Na atoms occupy Wyckoff position 3b, whereas the Mg and Sn atoms are statistically distributed on the cation sites 3a; all cations are surrounded by six sulfur atoms.

Synthesis and Characterization of a Rare Transition-Metal Oxothiostannate and Investigation of Its Photocatalytic Properties

The new transition-metal oxothiostannate [Ni(cyclen)(H₂O)₂]₄[Sn₁₀S₂₀O₄]·∼13H₂O (1) was prepared under hydrothermal conditions using Na₄SnS₄·14H₂O as the precursor in the presence of [Ni(cyclen)(H₂O)₂](ClO₄)₂·H₂O. Compound 1 comprises the [Sn₁₀S₂₀O₄]^8- anion constructed by the T3-type supertetrahedron [Sn₁₀S₂₀] and the [Sn₁₀O₄] anti-T2 cluster. Channels host the H₂O molecules, and the sample can be reversibly dehydrated and rehydrated without significantly affecting the crystallinity of the material. ¹¹⁹Sn NMR spectroscopy of an aqueous solution of Na₄SnS₄·14H₂O evidences that between 25 and 120 °C only [SnS₄]^4- and [Sn₂S₆]^4- anions are present. In further experiments, hints were found that the formation of tin oxosulfide ions depends on the Ni²⁺-centered complexes. Compound 1 exhibits promising photocatalytic properties for the visible-light-driven hydrogen evolution reaction, with 18.7 mmol·g^-1 H₂ being evolved after 3 h.

Structural insights into T2-cluster-containing chalcogenides with vertex-, edge- and face-sharing connection modes of NaQ6 ligands: Na3ZnMIIIQ4 (MIII = In, Ga; Q = S, Se)

New series of T₂-cluster-containing chalcogenides exhibiting the novel connection mode of NaS₆ ligands and torsional adjacent T₂-clusters were reported.

Syntheses, crystal structures and physical properties of three new chalcogenides: NaGaGe3Se8, K3Ga3Ge7S20, and K3Ga3Ge7Se20

NaGaGe₃Se₈ has a layered structure, while K₃Ga₃Ge₇Q₂₀ (Q = S, Se) are constructed by incompletely isolated quasi-2D layers, leading to large channels loosely occupied by K⁺ cations.

Electronic, optical and lattice dynamic properties of the novel diamond-like semiconductors Li2CdGeS4 and Li2CdSnS4

Li(2)CdGeS(4) and Li(2)CdSnS(4) are novel quaternary diamond-like semiconductors (DLSs) which have been synthesized recently. We present first-principles calculations of their electronic, optical and lattice dynamic properties with the plane-wave pseudopotential method. We have found an indirect band gap of 2.78 eV for Li(2)CdGeS(4) and a direct band gap of 2.50 eV for Li(2)CdSnS(4). The serious stretching vibrations of the Ge/Sn-S and Li-S bonds may enhance their phonon energies, and cause them to exhibit high heat capacities and Debye temperatures, which are promising for nonlinear optical applications. Compared with Cu-based DLSs, Li plays a key role in enlarging the band gaps and increasing the lattice phonon energies, which would increase the thermal conductivity accompanied by an increase of the optical damage threshold.

Self-assembly of luminescent Sn(IV)/Cu/S clusters using metal thiolates as metalloligands

Through the use of (Bu4N)2[Sn3S4(edt)3] (edt=SCH2CH2S(2-)) and Sn(SPh)4 as metalloligands, three neutral compounds have been obtained: [(Ph3P) 2Cu] 2SnS(edt)(2).2CH2Cl2.H2O (1a), [(Ph3P) 2Cu]2SnS(edt)2.2DMF.H2O (1b), and [(Ph3P)Cu] 2Sn(SPh)(6).3H 2O (2). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies revealed that compounds 1a and 1b contain the same neutral butterfly-like [(Ph3P)2Cu]2SnS(edt)2 cluster, which consists of one central SnS 5 dreich trigonal bipyramid sharing one vertex and two sides with two slightly distorted CuS 2P2 tetrahedrons. Compound 2 has a linear [(Ph3P)Cu]2Sn(SPh)6 cluster that is composed of a central distorted SnS 6 octahedron sharing two opposite planes with two slightly distorted CuS 3P tetrahedrons. Compound 1a exhibited an emission at 568 nm (tau=12.86 micros) in the solid state, while in CH 2Cl 2 solution, 1a exhibited a green emission at 534 nm (tau=4.75 micros). Compound 2 showed an intense red emission at 696 nm (tau=3.64 micros) upon excitation at 307 nm in the solid state.

Assembly of a heterometallic polynuclear Sn(IV)-Cu(I) cluster based on Sn(edt)2 (edt = ethane-1,2-dithiolate) as a metalloligand

Reaction of [Cu(PPh3)2(MeCN)2]ClO4 (1) and Sn(edt)2 (edt = ethane-1,2-dithiolate) in dichloromethane afforded a novel compound [Sn3Cu4(S2C2H4)6(mu3-O)(PPh3)4](ClO4)2 x 3 CH2Cl2 (2), which is the first example of the heptanuclear Sn(IV)-Cu(I) oxosulfur complex with a bottle-shaped cluster core. Complex 2 gives a blue-green luminescent emission in the solid state. Crystallographic data for 2: C87H90Cl8Cu4O9P4S12Sn3, trigonal, space group R3, M = 2682.02, a = 18.156(2) A, b = 18.156(2) A, c = 54.495(10) A, gamma = 120 degrees, V = 15558(4) A3, Z = 6 (T = 130.15 K).