Discrete Supertetrahedral Tn Chalcogenido Clusters Synthesized in Ionic Liquids: Crystal Structures and Photocatalytic Activity

Discrete supertetrahedral Tn chalcogenido clusters, which can be regarded as the smallest semiconductor quantum dots with precise chemical composition, have attracted considerable attention due to their outstanding photoluminescent, photoelectric, and photo/electrocatalytic properties. Such discrete molecular clusters are suitable for solution processing towards functional materials and can be used as precursors for constructing open-framework chalcogenides. Traditionally they were synthesized hydro(solvo)thermally with molecular solvents (e. g. water or organic amines), while until recently imidazolium-based ionic liquids (ILs) were found suitable for their preparation acting as reactive solvent and stabilizer for molecular clusters. We discuss herein recent advances in the syntheses, crystal structures, and selected properties of discrete supertetrahedral Tn chalcogenido clusters obtained in ILs. In particular, the enhanced photocatalytic properties of monodispersed Tn clusters in solvents are highlighted.

Two new layered metal chalcogenide frameworks as photocatalysts for highly efficient and selective dye degradation

Dye photodegradation is an important research topic, and great efforts have been made to target the photocatalysts with highly efficient and selective performance. Reported here are two layered anion chalcogenide frameworks with semiconducting properties combined with highly open interlayer spaces, which are used as efficient photocatalysts to show excellent size and charge selectivity towards organic dye molecules. In addition, the organic templates inside the chalcogenide frameworks are exchanged via an ion-exchange process, and the resulting host frameworks with much looser internal spaces play significant roles in improving the photocatalytic activity.

Syntheses, structures, and photocatalytic properties of open-framework Ag-Sn-S compounds

Four open-framework Ag-Sn-S compounds K2Ag2Sn2S6 (1); K2Ag2SnS4 (2); Rb2Ag2SnS4 (3); and Cs2Ag2SnS4 (4) have been synthesized using a solvothermal method. Compound 1 possesses a unique three-dimensional (3D) structure in which Ag+ ions are two-coordinated. Compounds 2-4 have the same layered structure in which Ag+ ions are tetrahedrally coordinated. Photocatalytic degradation properties of methylene blue have been investigated and compound 1 displays excellent photodegradation activities. The photoelectric response properties, optical properties, and theoretical calculations of these compounds have also been studied.

A series of new vanadium(iii) chalcogenido-antimonates: an unusual seven-coordinate nitro-selenidovanadium(iii) complex

A series of new vanadium(iii) chalcogenidoantimonates [VIII(dap)2SbQ3] (Q = S (1), Se (2); dap = 1,2-diaminopropane), [H2dien][VIII2(en)2(dien)2(μ2-O)][SbSe4]2 (3, en = ethylenediamine; dien = diethylenetriamine) and [VIII(dien)2SbSe4] (4) have been solvothermally synthesized and structurally characterized. Both 1 and 2 contain neutral vanadium(iii)-centered complexes [VIII(dap)2SbQ3], where the [SbQ3]3- anion acts as a chelating ligand to complex [VIII(dap)2]3+, but they exhibit different molecular conformations. 3 consists of selenidoantimonate anions [SbSe4]3-, the protonated H2dien2+ cation, and the dinuclear complex [VIII2(en)2(dien)2(μ2-O)]4+ based on two [VIII(en)(dien)]3+ units bridged by one μ2-O group. 4 contains neutral [VIII(dien)2SbSe4] moieties with seven coordinated vanadium centres, which offers a rare example of high coordination of a nitro-selenidovanadium(iii) complex, mainly because the vanadium(iii) ion has a regular octahedral configuration based on the structures in the solid state. The optical, magnetic and photoelectronic properties of all compounds have been investigated, and the density functional theory calculation of 4 has also been studied.

A Series of Lanthanide Selenidogermanates: The First Coexistence of Three Types of Selenidogermanate Units in the Same Architecture

A series of lanthanide selenidogermanates, (H₂peha)[Ln₂(μ-OH)₂(tepa)₂Cl₂]{[Ln₂(μ-OH)₂(tepa)₂Cl]₂(μ-Ge₂Se₆)}[Ge₂Se₆]Cl₂ [Ln = Y (1a) and Er (1b); peha = pentaethylenexamine, tepa = tetraethylenepentamine], [Sm₂(μ-OH)₂(tepa)₂(μ-Ge₂Se₆)]_n (2), [Ho₂(μ-OH)₂(tepa)₂(μ-Ge₂Se₆)]_n (3), and [Ce₄(tepa)₄(μ-GeSe₄)(μ-GeSe₅)(μ-Ge₂Se₆)]_n (4), were made under solvothermal conditions. Compounds 1a and 1b contain a protonated H₂peha²⁺ ion, the complex cation [Ln₂(μ-OH)₂(tepa)₂Cl₂]²⁺, a [Ge₂Se₆]^4- anion, free Cl^- ions, and a {[Ln₂(μ-OH)₂(tepa)₂Cl]₂(μ-Ge₂Se₆)}²⁺ cation constructed by two unsaturated [Ln₂(μ-OH)₂(tepa)₂Cl]³⁺ groups connecting via the trans terminal Se atoms of the [Ge₂Se₆]^4- anion, which provides the first example of an organic decorated lanthanide selenidogermanate cation. Both compounds 2 and 3 contain one-dimensional chains [Ln₂(μ-OH)₂(tepa)₂(μ-Ge₂Se₆)]_n constructed by a combination of unsaturated complex cations [Ln₂(μ-OH)₂(tepa)₂]⁴⁺ and [Ge₂Se₆]^4- anions, but their stacking patterns of neutral chains are different. Compound 4 contains one-dimensional chain [Ce₄(tepa)₄(μ-GeSe₄)(μ-GeSe₅)(μ-Ge₂Se₆)]_n, where three different selenidogermanate units acting as bridging ligands connect unsaturated [Ce(tepa)]³⁺ ions. Compound 4 represents the first example of the coexistence of three different selenidogermanate anions in the same architecture. Their optical properties are studied, and the magnetic properties of compounds 1b and 2-4 are also investigated.

Multitopic ligand directed assembly of low-dimensional metal-chalcogenide organic frameworks

Despite tremendous progress in metal-organic frameworks, only limited success has been achieved with metal-chalcogenide organic frameworks. Metal-chalcogenide organic frameworks are desirable because they offer a promising route towards tunable semiconducting porous frameworks. Here, four novel semiconducting chalcogenide-organic hybrid compounds have been synthesized through a solvothermal method. Multitopic organic molecules, i.e., 1,2-di-(4-pyridyl)ethylene (L¹), 1,3,5-tris(4-pyridyl-trans-ethenyl)benzene (L²) and tetrakis(4-pyridyloxymethylene)methane (L³), have been used as linkers to assemble Zn(SAr)₂ or Zn₂(SAr)₄ units to generate different patterns of spatial organizations. Single-crystal structural analyses indicate that compounds NTU-2, NTU-3 and NTU-4 possess two-dimensional layer structures, while compound NTU-1 adopts a one-dimensional coordination framework (NTU-n, where n is the number related to a specific structure). The diffuse-reflectance spectra demonstrate that these four compounds possess indirect bandgaps and their tunable bandgaps are correlated with their compositions and crystal structures.

Syntheses, crystal structures, and photocatalytic properties of two ammonium-directed Ag–Sb–S complexes

Two novel crystalline Ag–Sb–S complexes show better photodegradation performance on CV than RhB.

PCU-type copper-rich open-framework chalcogenides: pushing up the length limit of the connection mode and the first mixed-metal [Cu7GeSe13] cluster

A pure dimeric connection mode and an unprecedented Cu₇GeSe₁₃ cluster were found in a series of pcu-type copper-rich open-framework chalcogenides.

Recent progress in crystalline metal chalcogenides as efficient photocatalysts for organic pollutant degradation

Recent progress in crystalline metal chalcogenides as efficient visible-light-driven photocatalysts for aqueous organic pollutant degradation is reviewed.

Syntheses, structures, and properties of sulfides constructed by SbS4teeter-totter polyhedra: Ba3La4Ga2Sb2S15and BaLa3GaSb2S10

Two new pentanary sulfides Ba₃La₄Ga₂Sb₂S₁₅(1) and BaLa₃GaSb₂S₁₀(2) have been discovered.

Facile Hydrazine-Hydrothermal Syntheses and Characterizations of Two Quaternary Thioarsenates(III): Two-Dimensional SrAg4 As2 S6 ⋅2 H2 O and One-Dimensional BaAgAsS3

Two new quaternary thioarsenates(III), SrAg4 As2 S6 ⋅2 H2 O (1) and BaAgAsS3 (2), have been prepared through a hydrazine-hydrothermal method at low temperature. Compound 1 possesses a two-dimensional (2D) layer network, while compound 2 features a one-dimensional (1D) column structure. The detailed structure analysis indicates that Sr(2+) and Ba(2+) cations have different directing effects on the structures of thioarsenates(III). Both experimental and theoretical studies demonstrate that compounds 1 and 2 are narrow-gap semiconductors. Our success in synthesizing these two quaternary thioarsenates(III) proves that the hydrazine-hydrothermal technique is a powerful yet facile synthetic method for exploring new complex chalcogenides with diverse crystal structures and interesting physical properties.

[Mn(dien)2]MnSnS4, [Mn(1,2-dap)]2Sn2S6 and [Mn(en)2]MnGeS4: from 1D anionic and neutral chains to 3D neutral frameworks

Three new organic–inorganic hybrid manganese thiogermanates and thiostannates with 1D anionic or neutral chains and 3D neutral frameworks have been synthesized and feature interesting antiferromagnetic or ferromagnetic properties.

Two manganese–amine complexes incorporating thioantimonates and exhibiting diversiform roles of amine ligands

Two manganese–amine complexes incorporating thioantimonates with diversiform structure-directing actions of the amine ligands have been synthesized and characterized.