Photoluminescent chain-of-dimer anion in a novel hybrid halometallate (CHN){SbBr}: atypical behavior in one-dimensional anionic systems.

In pursuit of identifying less toxic hybrid compounds suitable for optoelectronic applications, we synthesized a novel homopiperazinium bromoantimonate(III), (CHN){SbBr}. It readily crystallized from an aqueous hydrobromic acid solution and was found to be stable both in air and upon heating up to 175 °C. The crystal structure of the new bromoantimonate(III) consisted of {SbBr} zigzag chains, which were composed of strongly trigonally distorted SbBr octahedral anions and CHN dications.

In Search of a Double Perovskite in the Phase Triangle of Bromides CsBr-CuBr-InBr.

New bromide compounds ABBBr with a double perovskite structure provide variety and flexibility of optoelectronic properties, and some of them are of poor toxicity in comparison with such popular lead halides. The promising compound with a double perovskite structure was proposed recently for the ternary system of CsBr-CuBr-InBr. Analysis of phase equilibria in the CsBr-CuBr-InBr ternary system showed stability of the quasi-binary section of CsCuBr-CsInBr.

Controlled Reduction of Sn in the Complex Iodide CsSnI with Metallic Gallium.

Metal gallium as a low-melting solid was applied in a mixture with elemental iodine to substitute tin(IV) in a promising light-harvesting phase of CsSnI by a reactive sintering method. The reducing power of gallium was applied to influence the optoelectronic properties of the CsSnI phase via partial reduction of tin(IV) and, very likely, substitute partially Sn by Ga. The reduction of Sn to Sn in the CsSnI phase contributes to the switching from -type conductivity to n-type, thereby improving the total concentration and mobility of negative-charge carriers.

Phase Equilibria in Ternary System CsBr-AgBr-InBr.

The double perovskite halides ABBX provide flexibility for various formulation adjustments and are of less toxicity in comparison with well-discussed complex lead halide derivatives. Such type of structure can be formed by replacing two Pb ions in the cubic lattice with a pair of non-toxic heterovalent (monovalent and trivalent) metal cations, such as silver and indium. The aim of this work is to briefly characterize the phase equilibria in the ternary system CsBr-AgBr-InBr and investigate the thermodynamic availability of synthesis of CsAgInBr double perovskite phase by solid-state sintering or melt crystallization.

Indium Doping of Lead-Free Perovskite CsSnI.

Structure and properties of an inorganic perovskite CsSnI demonstrated its potential as a light-harvester or electron-hole transport material; however, its optoelectronic properties are poorer than those of lead-based perovskites. Here, we report the way of light tuning of absorption and transport properties of cesium iodostannate(IV) CsSnI via partial heterovalent substitution of tin for indium. Light absorption and optical bandgaps of materials have been investigated by UV-vis absorption and photoluminescent spectroscopies.

Assembling Polyiodides and Iodobismuthates Using a Template Effect of a Cyclic Diammonium Cation and Formation of a Low-Gap Hybrid Iodobismuthate with High Thermal Stability.

Exploiting a template effect of 1,4-diazacycloheptane (also known as homopiperazine, Hpipe), four new hybrid iodides, (HpipeH)BiI·2HO, (HpipeH)I(I), (HpipeH)I·HO, and (HpipeH)(HO)I, were prepared and their crystal structures were solved using single crystal X-ray diffraction data. All four solid-state crystal structures feature the HpipeH cation alternating with BiI, I, or I anions and solvent water or HO cation. HpipeH assembles anionic and neutral building blocks into polymer structures by forming four strong (N)H···I and (N)H···O hydrogen bonds per cation, with the H···I distances ranging from 2.

Facile chemical routes to mesoporous silver substrates for SERS analysis.

Mesoporous silver nanoparticles were easily synthesized through the bulk reduction of crystalline silver(I) oxide and used for the preparation of highly porous surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-active substrates. An analogous procedure was successfully performed for the production of mesoporous silver films by chemical reduction of oxidized silver films. The sponge-like silver blocks with high surface area and the in-situ-prepared mesoporous silver films are efficient as both analyte adsorbents and Raman signal enhancement mediators.

From Isolated Anions to Polymer Structures through Linking with I: Synthesis, Structure, and Properties of Two Complex Bismuth(III) Iodine Iodides.

We report the synthesis, crystal structures, and optical properties of two new compounds, KBiI(I)·14HO (1) and (NH)BiI(I)·4.5HO (2), as well as the electronic structure of the latter. They crystallize in tetragonal space group P4/ mmm with the unit cell parameters a = 12.

Silver Eco-Solvent Ink for Reactive Printing of Polychromatic SERS and SPR Substrates.

A new reactive ink based on a silver citrate complex is proposed for a photochemical route to surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy active substrates with controllable extinction spectra. The drop-cast test of the ink reveals homogeneous nucleation of silver and colloid particle growth originating directly from photochemical in situ reduction in droplets, while the following evaporation of the deposited ink produces small nano- and micron-size particles. The prepared nanostructures and substrates were accurately characterized by electron microscopy methods and optical extinction spectroscopy.

Iodobismuthates Containing One-Dimensional BiI4(-) Anions as Prospective Light-Harvesting Materials: Synthesis, Crystal and Electronic Structure, and Optical Properties.

Four iodobismuthates, LiBiI4·5H2O (1), MgBi2I8·8H2O (2), MnBi2I8·8H2O (3), and KBiI4·H2O (4), were prepared by a facile solution route and revealed thermal stability in air up to 120 °C. Crystal structures of compounds 1-4 were solved by a single crystal X-ray diffraction method. 1: space group C2/c, a = 12.