Solvothermal synthesis and characterization of two 2-D layered germanium thioantimonates with transition-metal complexes

Two germanium thioantimonates [Co(dien)(2)](2)GeSb(4)S(10) (1, dien = diethylenetriamine) and [Mn(en)(3)]GeSb(2)S(6) (2, en = ethylenediamine) have been solvothermally synthesized and characterized by IR, UV/Vis, fluorescence spectroscopy, elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, powder X-ray diffraction and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. 1 contains heterometallic pseudosemicube [GeSb(2)S(7)] clusters and chain-like Sb(4)S(10) tetramers, which are interconnected to form a unique double layer of [GeSb(4)S(10)](4-) with 10-MR helical channels. 2 features a sheet layer of [GeSb(2)S(6)](2-) with ellipse-like 12-MR, where one [GeS(4)] tetrahedra, one [SbS(3)] trigonal-pyramid and one Ψ-[SbS(4)] trigonal bipyramid are combined to form another heterometallic [GeSb(2)S(8)] cluster as a building unit. 1 and 2 exhibit absorption edges at 2.36 eV and 2.10 eV, respectively. 2 exhibits a fluorescence emission at room temperature.