Triangulating Dopant-Level Mn(II) Insertion in a Cs2NaBiCl6 Double Perovskite Using Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy.

Lead-free metal halide double perovskites are gaining increasing attention for optoelectronic applications. Specifically, doping metal halide double perovskites using transition metals enables broadband tailorability of the optical bandgap for these emerging semiconducting materials. One candidate material is Mn(II)-doped Cs2NaBiCl6, but the nature of Mn(II) insertion on chemical structure is poorly understood due to low Mn loading. It is critical to determine the atomic-level structure at the site of Mn(II) incorporation in doped perovskites to better understand the structure-property relationships in these materials and thus to advance their applicability to optoelectronic applications. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy is uniquely qualified to address this, and thus a comprehensive three-pronged strategy, involving solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), high-field dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP), and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopies, is used to identify the location of Mn(II) insertion in Cs2NaBiCl6. Multinuclear (23Na, 35Cl, 133Cs, and 209Bi) one-dimensional (1D) magnetic resonance spectra reveal a low level of Mn(II) incorporation, with select spins affected by paramagnetic relaxation enhancement (PRE) induced by Mn(II) neighbors. EPR measurements confirm the oxidation state, octahedral symmetry, and low doping levels of the Mn(II) centers. Complementary EPR and NMR measurements confirm that the cubic structure is maintained with Mn(II) incorporation at room temperature, but the structure deviates slightly from cubic symmetry at low temperatures (<30 K). HYperfine Sublevel CORrelation (HYSCORE) EPR spectroscopy explores the electron-nuclear correlations of Mn(II) with 23Na, 133Cs, and 35Cl. The absence of 209Bi correlations suggests that Bi centers are replaced by Mn(II). Endogenous DNP NMR measurements from Mn(II) → 133Cs (<30 K) reveal that the solid effect is the dominant mechanism for DNP transfer and supports that Mn(II) is homogeneously distributed within the double-perovskite structure.

High-Capacitance Pseudocapacitors from Li+ Ion Intercalation in Nonporous, Electrically Conductive 2D Coordination Polymers.

Electrochemical capacitors (ECs) have emerged as reliable and fast-charging electrochemical energy storage devices that offer high power densities. Their use is still limited, nevertheless, by their relatively low energy density. Because high specific surface area and electrical conductivity are widely seen as key metrics for improving the energy density and overall performance of ECs, materials that have excellent electrical conductivities but are otherwise nonporous, such as coordination polymers (CPs), are often overlooked. Here, we report a new nonporous CP, Ni3(benzenehexathiolate) (Ni3BHT), which exhibits high electrical conductivity of over 500 S/m. When used as an electrode, Ni3BHT delivers excellent specific capacitances of 245 F/g and 426 F/cm3 in nonaqueous electrolytes. Structural and electrochemical studies relate the favorable performance to pseudocapacitive intercalation of Li+ ions between the 2D layers of Ni3BHT, a charge-storage mechanism that has thus far been documented only in inorganic materials such as TiO2, Nb2O5, and MXenes. This first demonstration of pseudocapacitive ion intercalation in nonporous CPs, a class of materials comprising thousands of members with distinct structures and compositions, provides important motivation for exploring this vast family of materials for nontraditional, high-energy pseudocapacitors.

Na3 SO4 H-The First Representative of the Material Class of Sulfate Hydrides.

The first representative of a novel class of mixed-anionic compounds, the sulfate hydride Na3 SO4 H, and the corresponding deuteride Na3 SO4 D were obtained from the solid-state reaction of NaH or NaD with dry Na2 SO4 . Precise reaction control is required, because too harsh conditions lead to the reduction of sulfate to sulfide. A combined X-ray and neutron diffraction study revealed that the compound crystallizes in the tetragonal space group P4/nmm with the lattice parameters a=7.0034(2) Šand c=4.8569(2) Å. The sole presence of hydride and absence of hydroxide ions is proven by vibrational spectroscopy and comparison with spectra predicted from quantum chemical calculations. 1 H and 23 Na MAS NMR spectra are consistent with the structure of Na3 SO4 H: a single 1 H peak at 2.9 ppm is observed, while two peaks at 15.0 and 6.2 ppm for the inequivalent 23 Na sites are observed. Elemental analysis and quantum chemical calculations further support these results.

Side-on Coordination in Isostructural Nitrous Oxide and Carbon Dioxide Complexes of Nickel.

A nickel complex incorporating an N2 O ligand with a rare η2 -N,N'-coordination mode was isolated and characterized by X-ray crystallography, as well as by IR and solid-state NMR spectroscopy augmented by 15 N-labeling experiments. The isoelectronic nickel CO2 complex reported for comparison features a very similar solid-state structure. Computational studies revealed that η2 -N2 O binds to nickel slightly stronger than η2 -CO2 in this case, and comparably to or slightly stronger than η2 -CO2 to transition metals in general. Comparable transition-state energies for the formation of isomeric η2 -N,N'- and η2 -N,O-complexes, and a negligible activation barrier for the decomposition of the latter likely account for the limited stability of the N2 O complex.

Tailorable Indirect to Direct Band-Gap Double Perovskites with Bright White-Light Emission: Decoding Chemical Structure Using Solid-State NMR.

Efficient white-light-emitting single-material sources are ideal for sustainable lighting applications. Though layered hybrid lead-halide perovskite materials have demonstrated attractive broad-band white-light emission properties, they pose a serious long-term environmental and health risk as they contain lead (Pb2+) and are readily soluble in water. Recently, lead-free halide double perovskite (HDP) materials with a generic formula A(I)2B'(III)B″(I)X6 (where A and B are cations and X is a halide ion) have demonstrated white-light emission with improved photoluminescence quantum yields (PLQYs). Here, we present a series of Bi3+/In3+ mixed-cationic Cs2Bi1-xInxAgCl6 HDP solid solutions that span the indirect to direct band-gap modification which exhibit tailorable optical properties. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicate an indirect-direct band-gap crossover composition when x > 0.50. These HDP materials emit over the entire visible light spectrum, centered at 600 ± 30 nm with full-width at half maxima of ca. 200 nm upon ultraviolet light excitation and a maximum PLQY of 34 ± 4% for Cs2Bi0.085In0.915AgCl6. Short-range structural insight for these materials is crucial to unravel the unique atomic-level structural properties which are difficult to distinguish by diffraction-based techniques. Hence, we demonstrate the advantage of using solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to deconvolute the local structural environments of these mixed-cationic HDPs. Using ultrahigh-field (21.14 T) NMR spectroscopy of quadrupolar nuclei (115In, 133Cs, and 209Bi), we show that there is a high degree of atomic-level B'(III)/B″(I) site ordering (i.e., no evidence of antisite defects). Furthermore, a combination of XRD, NMR, and DFT calculations was used to unravel the complete atomic-level random Bi3+/In3+ cationic mixing in Cs2Bi1-xInxAgCl6 HDPs. Briefly, this work provides an advance in understanding the photophysical properties that correlate long- to short-range structural elucidation of these newly developed solid-state white-light emitting HDP materials.

Solvent-Induced Bond-Bending Isomerism in Hexaphenyl Carbodiphosphorane: Decisive Dispersion Interactions in the Solid State.

Previous reports in the literature describe that the crystallization of hexaphenyl carbodiphosphorane (CDPPh) from a variety of solvents gives a "bent" geometry for the P-C-P moiety as the solid-state molecular structure. However, a linear structure is observed when CDPPh is crystallized from benzene. Here, we report detailed spectroscopic and theoretical studies on the linear and bent structures. X-ray powder diffraction examinations show a phase transition of linear CDPPh upon the loss of co-crystallized benzene molecules, which is accompanied by the bending of the P-C-P unit. Studies on the linear and bent structures (i.e., X-ray powder diffraction, solid-state NMR, UV-vis spectroscopy, and IR spectroscopy) show significant differences in their properties. Investigations of the solid-state structures with density functional theory-based methods (PBE-D3) point toward subtle dispersion effects being responsible for this solvent-induced bond-bending isomerism in CDPPh.

Lead-207 NMR spectroscopy at 1.4 T: Application of benchtop instrumentation to a challenging I = ½ nucleus.

The practicality of obtaining liquid- and solid-state 207 Pb nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra with a low permanent-field magnet is investigated. Obtaining 207 Pb NMR spectra of salts in solution is shown to be viable for samples as dilute as 0.05 M. The concentration dependence of the 207 Pb chemical shifts for lead nitrate was investigated; the results are comparable with those obtained with high-field instruments. Likewise, the isotope effect of substituting D2 O for H2 O as the solvent was investigated and found to be comparable with those reported previously. Obtaining solid-state 207 Pb NMR spectra is challenging, but we demonstrate the ability to obtain such spectra for three unique solid samples. An axially symmetric 207 Pb powder pattern for lead nitrate and the powder pattern expected for lead chloride reveal linewidths dominated by shielding anisotropy, while 207 Pb-35/37 Cl J-coupling dominates in the methylammonium lead chloride perovskite material. Finally, recent innovations and the future potential of the instruments are considered.

C3N5: A Low Bandgap Semiconductor Containing an Azo-Linked Carbon Nitride Framework for Photocatalytic, Photovoltaic and Adsorbent Applications.

Modification of carbon nitride based polymeric 2D materials for tailoring their optical, electronic and chemical properties for various applications has gained significant interest. The present report demonstrates the synthesis of a novel modified carbon nitride framework with a remarkable 3:5 C:N stoichiometry (C3N5) and an electronic bandgap of 1.76 eV, by thermal deammoniation of the melem hydrazine precursor. Characterization revealed that in the C3N5 polymer, two s-heptazine units are bridged together with azo linkage, which constitutes an entirely new and different bonding fashion from g-C3N4 where three heptazine units are linked together with tertiary nitrogen. Extended conjugation due to overlap of azo nitrogens and increased electron density on heptazine nucleus due to the aromatic π network of heptazine units lead to an upward shift of the valence band maximum resulting in bandgap reduction down to 1.76 eV. XRD, He-ion imaging, HR-TEM, EELS, PL, fluorescence lifetime imaging, Raman, FTIR, TGA, KPFM, XPS, NMR and EPR clearly show that the properties of C3N5 are distinct from pristine carbon nitride (g-C3N4). When used as an electron transport layer (ETL) in MAPbBr3 based halide perovskite solar cells, C3N5 outperformed g-C3N4, in particular generating an open circuit photovoltage as high as 1.3 V, while C3N5 blended with MA xFA1- xPb(I0.85Br0.15)3 perovskite active layer achieved a photoconversion efficiency (PCE) up to 16.7%. C3N5 was also shown to be an effective visible light sensitizer for TiO2 photoanodes in photoelectrochemical water splitting. Because of its electron-rich character, the C3N5 material displayed instantaneous adsorption of methylene blue from aqueous solution reaching complete equilibrium within 10 min, which is significantly faster than pristine g-C3N4 and other carbon based materials. C3N5 coupled with plasmonic silver nanocubes promotes plasmon-exciton coinduced surface catalytic reactions reaching completion at much low laser intensity (1.0 mW) than g-C3N4, which showed sluggish performance even at high laser power (10.0 mW). The relatively narrow bandgap and 2D structure of C3N5 make it an interesting air-stable and temperature-resistant semiconductor for optoelectronic applications while its electron-rich character and intrasheet cavity make it an attractive supramolecular adsorbent for environmental applications.

Nickel as a Lewis Base in a T-Shaped Nickel(0) Germylene Complex Incorporating a Flexible Bis(NHC) Ligand.

Flexible, chelating bis(NHC) ligand 2, able to accommodate both cis- and trans-coordination modes, was used to synthesize (2)Ni(η2 -cod), 3. In reaction with GeCl2 , it produced (2)NiGeCl2 , 4, featuring a T-shaped Ni0 and a pyramidal Ge center. Complex 4 could also be prepared from [(2)GeCl]Cl, 5, and Ni(cod)2 , in a reaction that formally involved Ni-Ge transmetalation, followed by coordination of the extruded GeCl2 moiety to Ni. A computational analysis showed that 4 possesses considerable multiconfigurational character and the Ni→Ge bond is formed through σ-donation from the Ni 4s, 4p, and 3d orbitals to Ge. (NHC)2 Ni(cod) complexes 9 and 10, as well as (NHC)2 GeCl2 derivative 11, incorporating ligands that cannot accommodate a wide bite angle, failed to produce isolable Ni-Ge complexes. The isolation of (2)Ni(η2 -Py), 12, provides further evidence for the reluctance of the (2)Ni0 fragment to act as a σ-Lewis acid.

Methylammonium Cation Dynamics in Methylammonium Lead Halide Perovskites: A Solid-State NMR Perspective.

In light of the intense recent interest in the methylammonium lead halides, CH3NH3PbX3 (X = Cl, Br, and I) as sensitizers for photovoltaic cells, the dynamics of the methylammonium (MA) cation in these perovskite salts has been reinvestigated as a function of temperature via 2H, 14N, and 207Pb NMR spectroscopy. In the cubic phase of all three salts, the MA cation undergoes pseudoisotropic tumbling (picosecond time scale). For example, the correlation time, τ2, for the C-N axis of the iodide salt is 0.85 ± 0.30 ps at 330 K. The dynamics of the MA cation are essentially continuous across the cubic ↔ tetragonal phase transition; however, 2H and 14N NMR line shapes indicate that subtle ordering of the MA cation occurs in the tetragonal phase. The temperature dependence of the cation ordering is rationalized using a six-site model, with two equivalent sites along the c-axis and four equivalent sites either perpendicular or approximately perpendicular to this axis. As the cubic ↔ tetragonal phase transition temperature is approached, the six sites are nearly equally populated. Below the tetragonal ↔ orthorhombic phase transition, 2H NMR line shapes indicate that the C-N axis is essentially frozen.

Solid-State 87Sr NMR Spectroscopy at Natural Abundance and High Magnetic Field Strength.

Twenty-five strontium-containing solids were characterized via (87)Sr NMR spectroscopy at natural abundance and high magnetic field strength (B0 = 21.14 T). Strontium nuclear quadrupole coupling constants in these compounds are sensitive to the strontium site symmetry and range from 0 to 50.5 MHz. An experimental (87)Sr chemical shift scale is proposed, and available data indicate a chemical shift range of approximately 550 ppm, from -200 to +350 ppm relative to Sr(2+)(aq). In general, magnetic shielding increased with strontium coordination number. Experimentally measured chemical shift anisotropy is reported for stationary samples of solid powdered SrCl2·6H2O, SrBr2·6H2O, and SrCO3, with δaniso((87)Sr) values of +28, +26, and -65 ppm, respectively. NMR parameters were calculated using CASTEP, a gauge including projector augmented wave (GIPAW) DFT-based program, which addresses the periodic nature of solids using plane-wave basis sets. Calculated NMR parameters are in good agreement with those measured.

Solid-State (63)Cu, (65)Cu, and (31)P NMR Spectroscopy of Photoluminescent Copper(I) Triazole Phosphine Complexes.

The results of a solid-state (63/65)Cu and (31)P NMR investigation of several copper(I) complexes with functionalized 3-(2'-pyridyl)-1,2,4-triazole and phosphine ligands that have shown potential in the preparation of photoluminescent devices are reported. For each complex studied, distinct NMR parameters, with moderate (63)Cu nuclear quadrupolar coupling constant (CQ) values ranging from -17.2 to -23.7 MHz, are attributed to subtle variations in the distorted four-coordinate environments about the copper nuclei. The spans of the copper chemical shift (CS) tensors, δ11-δ33, for the mono- and bisphosphine complexes are also similar, ranging from 1000 to 1150 ppm, but that for a complex with a strained bidentate phosphine ligand is only 650 ppm. The effects of residual dipolar and indirect spin-spin coupling arising from the (63/65)Cu- (31)P spin pairs, observed in the solid-state (31)P NMR spectra of these complexes, yield information about the orientations of the copper electric field gradient (EFG) tensors relative to the Cu-P bond. Variable-temperature (31)P NMR measurements for [Cu(bptzH)(dppe)]ClO4 (bptzH = 5-tert-butyl-3-(2'-pyridyl)-1,2,4-triazole; dppe = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane), undertaken to investigate the cause of the broad unresolved spectra observed at room temperature, demonstrate that the broadening arises from partial self-decoupling of the (63/65)Cu nuclei, a consequence of rapid quadrupolar relaxation. Ab initio calculations of copper EFG and CS tensors were performed to probe relationships between NMR parameters and molecular structure. The analysis demonstrated that CQ((63/65)Cu) is negative for all complexes studied here and that the largest components of the EFG tensors are generally coincident with δ11.

Experimental characterization of the hydride 1H shielding tensors for HIrX2(PR3)2 and HRhCl2(PR3)2: extremely shielded hydride protons with unusually large magnetic shielding anisotropies.

The hydride proton magnetic shielding tensors for a series of iridium(III) and rhodium(III) complexes are determined. Although it has long been known that hydridic protons for transition-metal hydrides are often extremely shielded, this is the first experimental determination of the shielding tensors for such complexes. Isolating the (1)H NMR signal for a hydride proton requires careful experimental strategies because the spectra are generally dominated by ligand (1)H signals. We show that this can be accomplished for complexes containing as many as 66 ligand protons by substituting the latter with deuterium and by using hyperbolic secant pulses to selectively irradiate the hydride proton signal. We also demonstrate that the quality of the results is improved by performing experiments at the highest practical magnetic field (21.14 T for the work presented here). The hydride protons for iridium hydride complexes HIrX2(PR3)2 (X = Cl, Br, or I; R = isopropyl, cyclohexyl) are highly shielded with isotropic chemical shifts of approximately -50 ppm and are also highly anisotropic, with spans (=δ11 - δ33) ranging from 85.1 to 110.7 ppm. The hydridic protons for related rhodium complexes HRhCl2(PR3)2 also have unusual magnetic shielding properties with chemical shifts and spans of approximately -32 and 85 ppm, respectively. Relativistic density functional theory computations were performed to determine the orientation of the principal components of the hydride proton shielding tensors and to provide insights into the origin of these highly anisotropic shielding tensors. The results of our computations agree well with experiment, and our conclusions concerning the importance of relativistic effects support those recently reported by Kaupp and co-workers.

An investigation of 1:1 adducts of gallium trihalides with triarylphosphines by solid-state (69/71)Ga and 31P NMR spectroscopy.

Several 1:1 adducts of gallium trihalides with triarylphosphines, X(3)Ga(PR(3)) (X=Cl, Br, and I; PR(3)=triarylphosphine ligand), were investigated by using solid-state (69/71)Ga and (31)P NMR spectroscopy at different magnetic-field strengths. The (69/71)Ga nuclear quadrupolar coupling parameters, as well as the gallium and phosphorus magnetic shielding tensors, were determined. The magnitude of the (71)Ga quadrupolar coupling constants (C(Q)((71)Ga)) range from approximately 0.9 to 11.0 MHz. The spans of the gallium magnetic shielding tensors for these complexes, δ(11)-δ(33), range from approximately 30 to 380 ppm; those determined for phosphorus range from 10 to 40 ppm. For any given phosphine ligand, the gallium nuclei are most shielded for X=I and least shielded for X=Cl, a trend previously observed for In(III)-phosphine complexes. This experimental trend, attributed to spin-orbit effects of the halogen ligands, is reproduced by DFT calculations. The signs of C(Q)((69/71)Ga) for some of the adducts were determined from the analysis of the (31)P NMR spectra acquired with magic angle spinning (MAS). The (1)J((69/71)Ga,(31)P) and ΔJ((69/71)Ga, (31)P) values, as well as their signs, were also determined; values of (1)J((71)Ga,(31)P) range from approximately 380 to 1590 Hz. Values of (1)J((69/71)Ga,(31)P) and ΔJ((69/71)Ga,(31)P) calculated by using DFT have comparable magnitudes and generally reproduce experimental trends. Both the Fermi-contact and spin-dipolar Fermi-contact mechanisms make important contributions to the (1)J((69/71)Ga,(31)P) tensors. The (31)P NMR spectra of several adducts in solution, obtained as a function of temperature, are contrasted with those obtained in the solid state. Finally, to complement the analysis of NMR spectra for these adducts, single-crystal X-ray diffraction data for Br(3)Ga[P(p-Anis)(3)] and I(3)Ga[P(p-Anis)(3)] were obtained.

Coupling Particle Ordering and Spherulitic Growth for Long-Term Performance of Nanocellulose/Poly(ethylene oxide) Electrolytes.

Development of lithium-ion batteries with composite solid polymer electrolytes (CPSEs) has attracted attention due to their higher energy density and improved safety compared to systems utilizing liquid electrolytes. While it is well known that the microstructure of CPSEs affects the ionic conductivity, thermal stability, and mechanical integrity/long-term stability, the bridge between the microscopic and macroscopic scales is still unclear. Herein, we present a systematic investigation of the distribution of TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibrils (t-CNFs) in two different molecular weights of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and its effect on Li+ ion mobility, bulk conductivity, and long-term stability. For the first time, we link local Li-ion mobility at the nanoscale level to the morphology of CPSEs defined by PEO spherulitic growth in the presence of t-CNF. In a low-MW PEO system, spherulites occupy a whole volume of the derived CPSE with t-CNF being incorporated in between lamellas, while their nuclei remain particle-free. In a high-MW PEO system, spherulites are scarce and their growth is arrested in a non-equilibrium cubic shape due to the strong t-CNF network surrounding them. Electrochemical strain microscopy and solid-state 7Li nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy confirm that t-CNF does not partake in Li+ ion transport regardless of its distribution within the polymer matrix. Free-standing CSPE films with low-MW PEO have higher conductivity but lack long-term stability due to the existence of uniformly distributed, particle-free, spherulite nuclei, which have very little resistance to Li dendrite growth. On the other hand, high-MW PEO has lower conductivity but demonstrates a highly stable Li cycling response for more than 1000 h at 0.2 mA/cm2 and 65 °C and more than 100 h at 85 °C. The study provides a direct link between the microscopic dynamic, Li-ion transport, bulk mechanical properties and long-term stability of the derived CPSE and, and as such, offers a pathway towards design of robust all-solid-state Li-metal batteries.

Photocatalytic Mechanism Control and Study of Carrier Dynamics in CdS@C3N5 Core-Shell Nanowires.

We present a potential solution to the problem of extraction of photogenerated holes from CdS nanocrystals and nanowires. The nanosheet form of C3N5 is a low-band-gap (Eg = 2.03 eV), azo-linked graphenic carbon nitride framework formed by the polymerization of melem hydrazine (MHP). C3N5 nanosheets were either wrapped around CdS nanorods (NRs) following the synthesis of pristine chalcogenide or intercalated among them by an in situ synthesis protocol to form two kinds of heterostructures, CdS-MHP and CdS-MHPINS, respectively. CdS-MHP improved the photocatalytic degradation rate of 4-nitrophenol by nearly an order of magnitude in comparison to bare CdS NRs. CdS-MHP also enhanced the sunlight-driven photocatalytic activity of bare CdS NWs for the decolorization of rhodamine B (RhB) by a remarkable 300% through the improved extraction and utilization of photogenerated holes due to surface passivation. More interestingly, CdS-MHP provided reaction pathway control over RhB degradation. In the absence of scavengers, CdS-MHP degraded RhB through the N-deethylation pathway. When either hole scavenger or electron scavenger was added to the RhB solution, the photocatalytic activity of CdS-MHP remained mostly unchanged, while the degradation mechanism shifted to the chromophore cleavage (cycloreversion) pathway. We investigated the optoelectronic properties of CdS-C3N5 heterojunctions using density functional theory (DFT) simulations, finite difference time domain (FDTD) simulations, time-resolved terahertz spectroscopy (TRTS), and photoconductivity measurements. TRTS indicated high carrier mobilities >450 cm2 V-1 s-1 and carrier relaxation times >60 ps for CdS-MHP, while CdS-MHPINS exhibited much lower mobilities <150 cm2 V-1 s-1 and short carrier relaxation times <20 ps. Hysteresis in the photoconductive J-V characteristics of CdS NWs disappeared in CdS-MHP, confirming surface passivation. Dispersion-corrected DFT simulations indicated a delocalized HOMO and a LUMO localized on C3N5 in CdS-MHP. C3N5, with its extended π-conjugation and low band gap, can function as a shuttle to extract carriers and excitons in nanostructured heterojunctions, and enhance performance in optoelectronic devices. Our results demonstrate how carrier dynamics in core-shell heterostructures can be manipulated to achieve control over the reaction mechanism in photocatalysis.

Solid-state 115In and 31P NMR studies of triarylphosphine indium trihalide adducts.

Solid-state (115)In and (31)P NMR spectroscopy, relativistic density functional theory (DFT) calculations, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction were used to investigate a series of triarylphosphine indium(III) trihalide adducts, X(3)In(PR(3)) and X(3)In(PR(3))(2) (X = Cl, Br or I; PR(3) = triarylphosphine ligand). The electric field gradient tensors at indium as well as the indium and phosphorus magnetic shielding tensors and the direct and indirect (115)In-(31)P spin-spin coupling were characterized; for complexes possessing a C(3) symmetry axis, the anisotropy in the indirect spin-spin coupling, DeltaJ((115)In,(31)P), was also determined. The (115)In quadrupolar coupling constants, C(Q)((115)In), range from +/-1.25 +/- 0.10 to -166.0 +/- 2.0 MHz. For any given phosphine ligand, the indium nuclei are most shielded for X = I and least shielded for X = Cl, a trend also observed for other group-13 nuclei in M(III) complexes. This experimental trend, attributed to spin-orbit effects of the halogen ligands, is reproduced by the DFT calculations. The spans of the indium magnetic shielding tensors for these complexes, delta(11)-delta(33), range from 40 +/- 7 to 710 +/- 60 ppm; those determined for phosphorus range from 28 +/- 1.5 to 50 +/- 3 ppm. Values of (1)J((115)In,(31)P) range from 550 +/- 20 to 2500 +/- 20 Hz. For any given halide, the (1)J((115)In,(31)P) values generally increase with increasing basicity of the PR(3) ligand. Calculated values of (1)J((115)In,(31)P) and DeltaJ((115)In,(31)P) duplicate experimental trends and indicate that both the Fermi-contact and spin-dipolar Fermi-contact mechanisms make important contributions to the (1)J((115)In,(31)P) tensors.

Synthesis of gold phosphido complexes derived from bis(secondary) phosphines. structure of tetrameric [Au(MesP(CH(2))(3)PMes)Au](4).

Treatment of 2 equiv of Au(THT)Cl (THT = tetrahydrothiophene) with the bis(secondary) phosphines HP(R) approximately PH(R) (linker approximately = (CH(2))(3), R = Mes = 2,4,6-Me(3)C(6)H(2) (1), R = Is = 2,4,6-(i-Pr)(3)C(6)H(2) (2), R = Ph (4); approximately = (CH(2))(2), R = Is (3); HP(R) approximately PH(R) = 1,1'-(eta(5)-C(5)H(4)PHPh)(2)Fe (5)), gave the dinuclear complexes (AuCl)(2)(mu-HP(R) approximately PH(R)) (6-10). Dehydrohalogenation with aqueous ammonia gave the phosphido complexes [(Au)(2)(mu-P(R) approximately P(R))](n) (11-15). Ferrocenyl- and phenylphosphido derivatives 15 and 14 were insoluble; the latter was characterized by solid-state (31)P NMR spectroscopy. Isitylphosphido complexes 12 and 13 gave rise to broad, ill-defined NMR spectra. However, mesitylphosphido complex 11 was formed as a single product, which was characterized by multinuclear solution NMR spectroscopy, solid-state (31)P NMR spectroscopy, and elemental analyses. Mass spectrometry suggested that this material contained eight gold atoms (n = 4). A structure proposed on the basis of the (1)H NMR spectra, containing a distorted cube of phosphorus atoms, was confirmed by X-ray crystallographic structure determination. NMR spectroscopy, including measurement of the hydrodynamic radius of 11 by (1)H NMR DOSY, suggested that this structure was maintained in solution. Density functional theory (DFT) structural calculations on 11 were also in good agreement with the solid-state structure.

Influence of hidden halogen mobility on local structure of CsSn(Cl1-x Br x )3 mixed-halide perovskites by solid-state NMR.

Tin halide perovskites are promising candidates for lead-free photovoltaic and optoelectronic materials, but not all of them have been well characterized. It is essential to determine how the bulk photophysical properties are correlated with their structures at both short and long ranges. Although CsSnCl3 is normally stable in the cubic perovskite structure only above 379 K, it was prepared as a metastable phase at room temperature. The transition from the cubic to the monoclinic phase, which is the stable form at room temperature, was tracked by solid-state 133Cs NMR spectroscopy and shown to take place through a first-order kinetics process. The complete solid solution CsSn(Cl1-x Br x )3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) was successfully prepared, exhibiting cubic perovskite structures extending between the metastable CsSnCl3 and stable CsSnBr3 end-members. The NMR spectra of CsSnBr3 samples obtained by three routes (high-temperature, mechanochemical, and solvent-assisted reactions) show distinct chemical shift ranges, spin-lattice relaxation parameters and peak widths, indicative of differences in local structure, defects and degree of crystallinity within these samples. Variable-temperature 119Sn spin-lattice relaxation measurements reveal spontaneous mobility of Br atoms in CsSnBr3. The degradation of CsSnBr3, exposed to an ambient atmosphere for nearly a year, was monitored by NMR spectroscopy and powder X-ray diffraction, as well as by optical absorption spectroscopy.

Cadmium(II) cysteine complexes in the solid state: a multispectroscopic study.

Cadmium(II) cysteinate compounds have recently been recognized to provide an environmentally friendly route for the production of CdS nanoparticles, used in semiconductors. In this article, we have studied the coordination for two cadmium(II) cysteinates, Cd(HCys)(2) x H(2)O (1) and {Cd(HCys)(2) x H(2)O}(2) x H(3)O(+)ClO(4)(-) (2), by means of vibrational (Raman and IR absorption), solid-state NMR ((113)Cd and (13)C), and Cd K- and L(3)-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy. Indistinguishable Cd K-edge extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) and Cd L(3)-edge X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectra were obtained for the two compounds, showing similar local structure around the cadmium(II) ions. The vibrational spectra show that the cysteine amine group is protonated (NH(3)(+)) and not involved in bonding. The (113)Cd solid-state cross-polarization magic angle spinning NMR spectra showed a broad signal in the approximately 500-700 ppm range, with the peak maximum at about 650 ppm, indicating three to four coordinated thiolate groups. Careful analyses of low-frequency Raman and far-IR spectra revealed bridging and terminal Cd-S vibrational bands. The average Cd-S distance of 2.52 +/- 0.02 A that constantly emerged from least-squares curve-fitting of the EXAFS spectra is consistent with CdS(4) and CdS(3)O coordination. Both structural models yielded reasonable values for the refined parameters, with a slightly better fit for the CdS(3)O configuration, for which the Cd-O distance of 2.27 +/- 0.04 A was obtained. The Cd L(3)-edge XANES spectra of 1 and 2 resembled that of the CdS(3)O model compound and showed that the coordination around Cd(II) ions in 1 and 2 cannot be exclusively CdS(4). The small separation of 176 cm(-1) between the infrared symmetric and antisymmetric COO(-) stretching modes indicates monodentate or strongly asymmetrical bidentate coordination of a cysteine carboxylate group in the CdS(3)O units. The combined results are consistent with a "cyclic/cage" type of structure for both the amorphous solids 1 and 2, composed of CdS(4) and CdS(3)O units with single thiolate (Cd-S-Cd) bridges, although a minor amount of cadmium(II) sites with CdS(3)O(2-3) and CdS(4)O coordination geometries cannot be ruled out.