(H2NC4H8NCH2CH2NH2)(HNCH2CH2NH2)3Zn2Ge2Se8: A new,templated one-dimensional ternary semiconductor stabilized by mixed organic cations

The novel, 1D semiconductor (H₂NC₄H₈NCH₂CH₂NH₂)(HNCH₂CH₂NH₂)₃Zn₂Ge₂Se₈ has been synthesized under solvothermal conditions using N-(2-aminoethyl)piperazine as solvent and templating agent at 200 °C. The material was characterized by single crystal and powder X-ray diffraction, IR and Raman spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. The compound consists of 1D anionic Zn₂Ge₂Se₈]⁴⁻ chains made of alternating edge-shared ZnSe₄] and GeSe₄] tetrahedra that charged balanced by one N-(2-aminoethyl)piperazinium and three piperazinium cations. The optical properties were investigated with solid state UV–Vis/near IR spectroscopy and the results show that the solid is a medium gap semiconductor with an absorption edge at 1.8 eV.