Selenidostannates and a Silver Selenidostannate Synthesized in Deep Eutectic Solvents: Crystal Structures and Thermochromic Study.

ABSTRACT

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have been adopted as reaction media for solvothermal synthesis of crystal materials. In the present work, we extended the scope of DESs in chalcogenidometalate preparation by including dimethylamine, ethylamine, and trimethylamine hydrochlorides and synthesized a series of novel Sn-Se and Ag-Sn-Se compounds i.e., [NH2(CH3)2]2Sn3Se7·0.5NH(CH3)2 (1), [NH4]2Sn4Se9 (2), [NH3C2H5]2Sn3Se7 (3), and [NH4]3AgSn3Se8 (4). Compounds 1 and 3 possess honeycomb lamellar [Sn3Se7] n2 n- structures featuring large hexagonal windows, while compound 2 features a rare [Sn4Se9] n2 n- anionic layer consisting of tetrameric {Sn4Se10} clusters as secondary building units (SBUs). Compound 4 comprises infinite [AgSn3Se8] n3 n- chains built by {Sn3Se8} units with Ag+ linkers, and it represents the first heterometallic chalcogenide synthesized in DESs. The organic ammonium cations of halide salts or in situ formed ammonium cations from the decomposition of urea act as templating agents for the formation of the inorganic frameworks. Compound 4 exhibits a marked thermochromic performance in the visible light range owing to the negative temperature dependence of its band gap ( Eg = 2.305-2.119 eV in the range of 100-450 K). The gold-dark red-gold color change is highly reversible in five rounds of heating and cooling, without any phase transition of the material, shedding light on the consequent device innovations.