New heterometallic coordination polymers derived form chalcogenocyanates: synthesis,characterization and electrical properties

A series of conducting mixed-metallic coordination polymers: Cu₂Pb(SCN)₄, CuPb(SeCN)₄, Cu^II_0.50Cu^IPb (SCN·SeCN)₂, CuAg(SCN)₂, CuAg(SeCN)₂ and CuAg(SCN·SeCN) have been synthesized by the reaction of Cu and Pb^II or Ag^Initrates with KSCN or KSeCN, or both KSCN and KSeCN in H₂O. Of significance are the aerobic reactions which yield heterometallic complexes viaoxidation of SCN^– and SeCN^– into (SCN)₂ and (SeCN)₂ followed by quantitative reduction of Cu^II into Cu^I; in the case of CuPb(SeCN)₄ reduction of Cu^II into Cu^I is not observed, while in Cu^II0.50Cu^IPb(SCN·SeCN)₂, Cu^II is partially reduced to Cu^I. These compounds have been characterized by elemental (C, N, S and Se) analyses, magnetic moment measurements, relevant spectroscopies (i.r., far i.r., Raman, u.v.–vis. and e.p.r.), powder X-ray diffraction pattern and conductivity technique. The v(CN) vibrations in 2162–2087cm^–1 and far i.r. bands (500–100cm^–1) corroborated by Raman bands are conclusive of the bridging (N, S/Se) mode and metal-NCS and metal-SCN/SeCN^– bonding respectively in the complexes. Room temperature magnetic moment, electronic absorption spectra and e.p.r. active/silent nature confirm the oxidation state of copper in these solids. Room temperature compressed pellet conductivities _rt, 10^–9to 10^–7Scm^–1 with activation energies, E_a=0.19–0.25eV and increase in the conductivity with increase in temperature in the 305–423K, range and decrease in conductivity with decrease in temperature in the 295–200K range, show their semiconductor properties.