Ternary and higher pnictides; prospects for new materials and applications

Discoveries of complex solid compounds of the group 15 elements have risen dramatically over the past 2 decades and within the last 10 years the potential offered by unusual and unexpected physical and chemical properties and phenomena are beginning to be realised in a materials context. This critical review highlights just some of the many areas in which ternary and higher pnictides are making an impact. A growing understanding of synthesis-structure-property relationships in nitrides, phosphides, arsenides and antimonides in particular has led to amazing progress over a very short space of time and provided insight that has proved to be transferrable to other areas of solid state and materials chemistry (254 references).     

New cyanometalate building units: synthesis and characterization of [Re(CN)(7)]3- and [Re(CN)(8)]3-

Two new cyanorhenate complexes of potential utility in constructing magnetic and photomagnetic materials are reported. Reaction of (Bu4N)CN with [ReCl6]2- in acetonitrile affords yellow (Bu4N)3[Re(CN)7] (1), featuring the pentagonal bipyramidal complex [Re(CN)7]3-. The spectral and magnetic properties of 1 indicate that the complex has an S = 1/2 ground state with considerable anisotropy in the g tensor. In aqueous solution, 1 reacts with Mn2+ ions to generate the three-dimensional cyano-bridged solid [fac-Mn(H2O)3][cis-Mn(H2O)2][Re(CN)7].3H2O (2) containing diamagnetic [Re(CN)7]4-. Addition of KIO4 to the reaction solution, originally intended to prevent reduction of the rhenium during solid formation, instead yields white (Bu4N)3[Re(CN)8] (3). As crystallized in K3[Re(CN)8].2MeCN (4.2MeCN), the diamagnetic [Re(CN)8]3- complex adopts a nearly perfect square antiprismatic coordination geometry. In solution, this species behaves analogously to the isoelectronic [M(CN)8]4- (M = Mo, W) complexes, apparently converting to a dodecahedral geometry and photooxidizing under UV radiation to give paramagnetic [Re(CN)8]2-.     

United in Nitride: The Highly Condensed Boron Phosphorus Nitride BP3N6

Owing to intriguing materials properties non‐metal nitrides are of special interest for both, solid‐state chemistry and materials science. Mixed ternary non‐metal nitrides, however, have only been sparsely investigated, as preparative chemistry lacks a systematic access, yet. Herein, we report on the highly condensed boron phosphorus nitride BP₃N₆, which was synthesized from (PNCl₂)₃, NH₄N₃ and h‐BN in a high‐pressure high‐temperature reaction. By increasing partial pressure of HCl during synthesis using NH₄Cl, single‐crystals of BP₃N₆ up to 80 μm in length were obtained. The unprecedented framework‐type structure determined by single‐crystal XRD blends structural motifs of both, α‐P₃N₅ and c‐BN, rendering BP₃N₆ a double nitride. The compound was further investigated by Rietveld refinement, EDX, temperature‐dependent PXRD, FTIR and solid‐state NMR spectroscopy. The formation of BP₃N₆ through use of reactive precursors exemplifies an innovative access to mixed non‐metal nitrides.     

XANES and XPS investigations of the local structure and final-state effects in amorphous metal silicates: (ZrO2)(x)(TiO2)(y)(SiO2)(1-x-y)

Amorphous quaternary [(ZrO(2))(x)(TiO(2))(y)(SiO(2))(1-x-y)] and ternary [(ZrO(2))(x)(SiO(2))(1-x)] silicates were synthesized using a sol-gel method and examined via XPS and XANES. Metal silicates are important industrial materials, though structural characterization is complicated because of their amorphous nature. Hard (Ti K- and Zr K-edge) and soft (Ti L(2,3)-edge) X-ray XANES spectra suggest the Ti and Zr coordination numbers in the quaternary silicates remain constant as the metal identity or total metal content (x, y, or x + y in the chemical formula) is varied. XPS core-line spectra from the quaternary silicates show large decreases in Ti 2p(3/2), Zr 3d(5/2), Si 2p(3/2), and O 1s binding energies due to increasing final-state relaxation with greater next-nearest neighbour substitution of Si for less-electronegative Ti/Zr, which was confirmed by analysis of the O Auger parameter. These decreases in binding energy occur without any changes in the ground-state energies (e.g., oxidation state) of these atoms, as examined by Ti L(2,3)-edge, Si L(2,3)-edge, and O K-edge XANES. Because most spectroscopic investigations are concerned with ground-state properties, knowledge of the contributions from final-state effects is important to understand the spectra from materials of interest.     

Tetracyanomanganate(II) and its salts of divalent first-row transition metal ions

The first known paramagnetic, tetrahedral cyanide complex, [Mn(II)(CN)(4)](2)(-), is formed by the photoinduced decomposition of [Mn(IV)(CN)(6)](2)(-) in nonaqueous solutions or by thermal decomposition in the solid state. In acetonitrile or dichloromethane, photoexcitation into the ligand-to-metal charge transfer band (lambda(max) = 25 700 cm(-1), epsilon = 3700 cm(-1) M(-1)) causes the homolytic cleavage of cyanide radicals and reduction of Mn(IV). Free cyanide in dichloromethane leads to the isolation of polycyanide oligomers such as [C(12)N(12)](2)(-) and [C(4)N(4)](-), which was crystallographically characterized as the PPN(+) salt C(40)H(30)N(5)P(2): monoclinic space group = I2/a, a = 18.6314(2) A, b = 9.1926(1) A, c = 20.8006(1), beta =106.176(2) degrees, Z = 4]. In the solid state Mn(IV)-CN bond homolysis is thermally activated above 122 degrees C, according to differential scanning calorimetry measurements, leading to the reductive elimination of cyanogen. The [Mn(II)(CN)(4)](2-) ion has a dynamic solution behavior, as evidenced by its concentration-dependent electronic and electron paramagnetic spectra, that can be attributed to aggregation of the coordinatively and electronically unsaturated (four-coordinate, 13-electron) metal center. Due to dynamics and lability of [Mn(II)(CN)(4)](2-) in solution, its reaction with divalent first-row transition metal cations leads to the formation of lattice compounds with both tetrahedral and square planar local coordination geometries of the metal ions and multiple structural and cyano-linkage isomers. alpha-Mn(II)[Mn(II)(CN)(4)] has an interpenetrating sphalerite- or diamond-like network structure with a unit cell parameter of a = 6.123 A (P43m space group) while a beta-phase of this material has a noninterpenetrating disordered lattice containing tetrahedral [Mn(II)(CN)(4)](2-). Linkage isomerization or cyanide abstraction during formation results in alpha-Mn(II)[Co(II)(CN)(4)] and Mn(II)[Ni(II)(CN)(4)] lattice compounds, both containing square planar tetracyanometalate centers. alpha-Mn(II)[Co(II)(CN)(4)] is irreversibly transformed to its beta-phase in the solid state by heating to 135 degrees C, which causes a geometric isomerization of [Co(II)(CN)(4)](2)(-) from square planar (nu(CN) = 2114 cm(-1), S = (1)/(2)) to tetrahedral (nu(CN) = 2158 cm(-1), S = (3)/(2)) as evidenced by infrared and magnetic susceptibility measurements. Mn(II)[Ni(II)(CN)(4)] is the only phase formed with Ni(II) due to the high thermodynamic stability of square planar [Ni(II)(CN)(4)](2)(-).     

Semirigid aromatic sulfone-carboxylate molecule for dynamic coordination networks: multiple substitutions of the ancillary ligands

We report dynamic, multiple single-crystal to single-crystal transformations of a coordination network system based on a semirigid molecule, TCPSB = 1,3,5-tri(4'-carboxyphenylsulphonyl)benzene, which nicely balances shape persistence and flexibility to bring about the framework dynamics in the solid state. The networks here generally consist of (1) the persistent core component (denoted as CoTCPSB) of linear Co(II) aqua clusters (Co-O-Co-O-Co) integrated into 2D grids by 4,4'-bipyridine and TCPSB and (2) ancillary ligands (AL) on the two terminal Co(II) ions-these include DMF (N,N'-dimethylformamide), DMA (N,N'-dimethylacetamide), CH(3)CN, and water. Most notably, the ancillary ligand sites are highly variable and undergo multiple substitution sequences while maintaining the solid reactants/products as single-crystals amenable to X-ray structure determinations. For example, when immersed in CH(3)CN, the AL of an as-made single crystal of CoTCPSB-DMF (i.e., DMF being the AL) is replaced to form CoTCPSB-CH(3)CN, which, in air, readily loses CH(3)CN to form CoTCPSB-H(2)O; the CoTCPSB-H(2)O single crystals, when placed in DMF, give back CoTCPSB-DMF in single-crystal form. Other selective, dynamic exchanges include the following: CoTCPSB-DMF reacts with CH(3)CN (to form CoTCPSB-CH(3)CN) but NOT with water, methanol, ethanol, DMA, or pyridine; CoTCPSB-H(2)O specifically pick outs DMF from a mixture of DMF, DMA, and DEF; an amorphous, dehydrated solid from CoTCPSB-H(2)O regains crystalline order simply by immersion in DMF (to form CoTCPSB-DMF). Further exploration with functional, semirigid ligands like TCPSB shall continue to uncover a wider array of advanced dynamic behaviors in solid state materials.     

Oxide nitrides: From oxides to solids with mobile nitrogen ions

The possibility of fast nitrogen ion conduction in solids is reviewed. Promising electrolytes based on three different base compounds are in the focus of this contribution: Zirconium oxide nitrides, tantalum oxide nitrides and mayenite-based materials. All aspects ranging from preparation methods, crystal structures (ideal and defect structure, also at elevated temperatures), transport properties (ionic and electronic conductivity, transference numbers, diffusion) and correlations between structure and physical properties are presented and discussed, in part also in relation to theoretical calculations. Fluorite-type quaternary oxide nitrides of zirconium are proven to be the first known materials with high nitrogen ion mobility. They can be described as fast mixed oxygen/nitrogen conductors but are limited due to the low maximum nitrogen/oxygen ratio achievable. Corresponding phases based on stabilized tantalum oxide nitrides have a superior N/O ratio but show poor thermal stability. For the development of a pure nitrogen ion conductor a different approach has also been investigated: Some cage compounds, in particular mayenite, allow the substitution of oxygen anions not tightly bound in the framework by nitrogen ions. Some of the obtained N-containing phases exhibit an outstanding electrical conductivity at low temperatures. Possible devices and applications such as a new type of a nitrogen sensor and an ammonia-producing fuel cell are introduced and discussed.     

Solid-State Chemistry with Nonmetal Nitrides

Among the nonmetal nitrides, the polymeric binary compounds BN and Si₃N₄are of particular interest for the development of materials for high-performance applications. The outstanding features of both substances are their thermal, mechanical, and chemical stability, coupled with their low density. Because of their extremely low reactivity, boron and silicon nitride are hardly ever used as starting materials for the preparation of ternary nitrides, but are used primarily in the manufacture of crucibles or other vessels or as insulation materials. The chemistry of ternary and higher nonmetal nitrides that contain electropositive elements and are thus analogous with the oxo compounds such as borates, silicates, phosphates, or sulfates was neglected for many years. Starting from the recent successful preparation of pure P₃N₅, a further binary nonmetal nitride which shows similarities with Si₃N₄ with regard to both its structure and properties, this review deals systematically with the solid-state chemistry of ternary and higher phosphorus(V ) nitrides and the relationship between the various types of structure found in this class of substance and the resulting properties and possible applications. From the point of view of preparative solid-state chemistry the syntheses, structures, and properties of the binary nonmetal nitrides BN, Si₃N₄, and P₃N₅ will be compared and contrasted. The chemistry of the phosphorus(V ) nitrides leads us to expect that other nonmetals such as boron, silicon, sulfur, and carbon will also participate in a rich nitride chemistry, as initial reports indeed indicate.     

ChemInform Abstract: Metal ion Displacements in Noncentrosymmetric Chalcogenides La3Ga1.67S7, La3Ag0.6GaCh7 (Ch: S,Se), and La3MGaSe7 (M: Zn,Cd).

The ternary and quaternary Ga‐containing chalcogenides of title are prepared by solid state reactions of the elements in stoichiometric quantities (evacuated silica tubes, 950 °C, 3 d).     

From triazines to heptazines: deciphering the local structure of amorphous nitrogen-rich carbon nitride materials

Nitrogen-rich carbon nitride (CN x , x >/= 1) network materials have been produced as disordered structures by a variety of precursor-based methods, many that involve solid-state thermolysis at or above 500 degrees C. One popular precursor building block is the triazine unit (C 3N 3), and most postulated amorphous CN x network structures are based on cross-linked triazine units. Since hydrogen is most often observed in the product, these materials are usually more appropriately described as CN x H y materials. Results from recent carbon nitride studies using larger conjugated heptazine (C 6N 7) precursors and from rigorous structural investigations of triazine to heptazine thermal conversion processes have prompted a reexamination of likely local structures present in amorphous carbon nitride networks formed by triazine thermolysis reactions. In the present study, the formation and local structure of a CN x H y material formed via the rapid and exothermic decomposition of a reactive triazine precursor, C 3N 3(NHCl) 3, was examined by byproduct gas mass spectrometry, NMR and IR spectroscopy, base hydrolysis, and crystallographic analysis. The combined results clearly indicate that the moderate-temperature ( approximately 400 degrees C) self-sustaining decomposition of trichloromelamine results in ring fragmentation and reorganization into a CN x H y product that contains predominantly larger heptazine-like structural building blocks. These results may have applicability to many other disordered carbon nitride materials that are formed via triazine thermolysis. It also provides clearer and more accurate structural guidance in the use of these carbon nitrides as photoactive materials or coordination supports for metal and nonmetal species.     

介孔硅基分子筛研究新进展

M41S、HMS、MSU 和SBA 等具有规则孔道结构的介孔硅基分子筛及其杂原子衍生物在多相催化、吸附分离及材料科学领域有重要的学术研究与工程应用价值。此类物质可以通过长链季铵盐、伯胺、双子胺或聚氧乙烯类表面活性剂胶束的模板作用, 在多种不同的条件下合成, 并可通过SEM、TEM、XRD、N₂ (A r) 等温吸附-脱附技术和FT-IR、激光Ram an、固体MA S NMR、UV-V is 漫反射、XPS、EXA FS、XAN ES 等谱学手段加以表征。本文对介孔硅基分子筛近年来所取得的进展进行了综述。     

Improved binary parameters using GA for multi-component aromatic extraction: NRTL model without and with closure equations

Application of genetic algorithm (GA), which leads to globally optimal binary interaction parameters from multi-component liquid–liquid equilibrium data, has been recently demonstrated for some ternary, quaternary and quinary systems. The binary interaction parameters are related to each other through the closure equations. In this work, the binary interaction parameters based on non-random two liquid (NRTL) activity coefficient model have been estimated using GA, without and with closure equations for 65 multi-component aromatic extraction systems: 53 ternary, 9 quaternary and 3 quinary systems. Parameters that satisfy the closure equations exhibit better root mean square deviations than those that do not satisfy the closure equations. Root mean square deviation value without implementation of closure equations is 0–80% better than literature as compared to 0–90% better with implementation of closure equations.     

Reactivity of coordinatively unsaturated iron complexes towards carbon monoxide: to bind or not to bind?

An overview of the reactivity of coordinatively unsaturated iron complexes (in most cases Fe(II)) towards carbon monoxide is presented. Unsaturated iron complexes are known with coordination numbers (CN) of two to five adopting linear or slightly bent (CN = 2), trigonal (CN = 3), tetrahedral, square planar or trigonal pyramidal (CN = 4), and square-pyramidal or trigonal-bipyramidal geometries (CN = 5), respectively. The binding of CO depends strongly on the number and the nature of co-ligands (overall ligand field strength), the charge of the complex, the complex geometry, and the spin state of the unsaturated metal center. In many cases, CO addition to high-spin iron complexes takes place with concomitant spin state changes forming compounds in the lowest possible spin state, i.e., with S = 0. In several other cases, however, the addition of CO is reversible or is even totally rejected altogether for either thermodynamic or kinetic reasons. In the case of the latter such reactions are termed "spin-blocked" or "spin forbidden".     

Harvesting Solar Light with Crystalline Carbon Nitrides for Efficient Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution

Described herein is the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution using crystalline carbon nitrides (CNs) obtained by supramolecular aggregation followed by ionic melt polycondensation (IMP) using melamine and 2,4,6‐triaminopyrimidine as a dopant. The solid state NMR spectrum of ¹⁵N‐enriched CN confirms the triazine as a building unit. Controlling the amount and arrangements of dopants in the CN structure can dramatically enhance the photocatalytic performance for H₂ evolution. The polytriazine imide (PTI) exhibits the apparent quantum efficiency (AQE) of 15 % at 400 nm. This method successfully enables a substantial amount of visible light to be harvested for H₂ evolution, and provides a promising route for the rational design of a variety of highly active crystalline CN photocatalysts.     

基于非富勒烯小分子受体Y6的有机太阳能电池

随着给/受体材料的不断发展,有机太阳能电池的器件效率不断取得进展.特别是非富勒受体分子Y6的出现,使单结有机太阳能电池的效率突破了15％.Y6已经应用到了有机太阳能电池各个方面并且极大提升了其性能.本综述主要总结了Y6在二元、三元和四元、逐层印刷、柔性、叠层和半透明等有机太阳能电池方面的研究情况,以及基于Y6三线态的有...     

Cation-size-mismatch tuning of photoluminescence in oxynitride phosphors

Red or yellow phosphors excited by a blue light-emitting diode are an efficient source of white light for everyday applications. Many solid oxides and nitrides, particularly silicon nitride-based materials such as M(2)Si(5)N(8) and MSi(2)O(2)N(2) (M = Ca, Sr, Ba), CaAlSiN(3), and SiAlON, are useful phosphor hosts with good thermal stabilities. Both oxide/nitride and various cation substitutions are commonly used to shift the emission spectrum and optimize luminescent properties, but the underlying mechanisms are not always clear. Here we show that size-mismatch between host and dopant cations tunes photoluminescence shifts systematically in M(1.95)Eu(0.05)Si(5-x)Al(x)N(8-x)O(x) lattices, leading to a red shift when the M = Ba and Sr host cations are larger than the Eu(2+) dopant, but a blue shift when the M = Ca host is smaller. Size-mismatch tuning of thermal quenching is also observed. A local anion clustering mechanism in which Eu(2+) gains excess nitride coordination in the M = Ba and Sr structures, but excess oxide in the Ca analogues, is proposed for these mismatch effects. This mechanism is predicted to be general to oxynitride materials and will be useful in tuning optical and other properties that are sensitive to local coordination environments.     

Structure and properties of the ion pair charge-transfer complex of octacyanotungstate(IV) with the 2,2′-bipyridinium dication

The X-ray crystal structure of (bpyH2)2[W(CN)8]·4H2 O (bpyH2=2,2-bipyridinium) is described. The [W(CN)8]4– anion has an approximately square antiprismatic (D4d) conformation, seemingly imposed by strong anion–water–cation hydrogen-bonding interactions. Bond distances in the anion are: WC 2.150(5), 2.163(5); CN 1.128(6), 1.145(6)Å and the angles WCN are 177.6(5), 178.3(5)°. The dihydrate and the anhydrous salt are both intensely black solids, exhibiting ion-pair charge-transfer interaction between cation and anion. E.s.r. spectra indicate that 30% of the tungsten is present as WV in the solid state, but that in solution only the WIV complex is present. The electron withdrawing effect of the cation is discussed and compared with that in a series of salts with different bipyridinium cations.     

A reversible metal-ligand bond break associated to a spin-crossover

The [Fe(II)L(CN)(2)].H(2)O complex, dicyano[2,13-dimethyl-6,9-dioxa-3,12,18-triazabicyclo[12.3.1]octadeca-1(18),2,12,14,16-pentaene]iron(II) monohydrate, exhibits a thermal induced metal-ligand bond break reversible in the solid state and associated to a spin crossover that corresponds to an unprecedented structurally characterized modification of the coordination metal environment from a hepta-coordinate high spin state to a hexa-coordinate low spin state.     

组合化学在功能材料合成方面的应用

组合化学方法是当今材料科学和化学领域的研究热点。组合化学方法首先在新药的合成领域得到应用, 很快就以其合成周期短、合成的样品数量大、节约经费等诸多优点而拓展到功能材料的合成等其它领域。组合化学的方法有许多种, 按照反应相的不同可以分为液相中的组合合成法和固相中的组合合成法, 固相组合合成又可以根据所选用的掩模方式的不同而分为二分阴影掩模法、四分阴影掩模法、可移动百叶窗式掩模法等几种, 可以根据材料合成的实际需求加以选择。     

Solid-state and solution-state coordination chemistry of the zinc triad with the mixed N,S donor ligand bis(2-methylpyridyl) sulfide

The binding of group 12 metal ions to bis(2-methylpyridyl) sulfide (1) was investigated by X-ray crystallography and NMR. Seven structures of the chloride and perchlorate salts of Hg(II), Cd(II), and Zn(II) with 1 are reported. Hg(1)(2)(ClO(4))(2), Cd(1)(2)(ClO(4))(2), and Zn(1)(2)(ClO(4))(2).CH(3)CN form mononuclear, six-coordinate species in the solid state with 1 binding in a tridentate coordination mode. Hg(1)(2)(ClO(4))(2) has a distorted trigonal prismatic coordination geometry while Cd(1)(2)(ClO(4))(2) and Zn(1)(2)(ClO(4))(2).CH(3)CN have distorted octahedral geometries. With chloride anions, the 1:1 metal to ligand complexes Hg(1)Cl(2), [Cd(1)Cl(2)](2), and Zn(1)Cl(2) are formed. A bidentate binding mode that lacks thioether coordination is observed for 1 in the four-coordinate, distorted tetrahedral complexes Zn(1)Cl(2) and Hg(1)Cl(2). [Cd(1)Cl(2)](2) is dimeric with a distorted octahedral coordination geometry and a tridentate 1. Hg(1)Cl(2) is comprised of pairs of loosely associated monomers and Zn(1)Cl(2) is monomeric. In addition, Hg(2)(1)Cl(4) is formed with alternating chloride and thioether bridges. The distorted square pyramidal Hg(II) centers result in a supramolecular zigzagging chain in the solid state. The solution (1)H NMR spectra of [Hg(1)(2)](2+) and [Hg(1)(NCCH(3))(x)()](2+) reveal (3)(-)(5)J((199)Hg(1)H) due to slow ligand exchange found in these thioether complexes. Implications for use of Hg(II) as a metallobioprobe are discussed.