SnCN 2 : A Carbodiimide with an Innovative Approach for Energy Storage Systems and Phosphors in Modern LED Technology

Synthesis of LaCN3, TbCN3, CeCN5, and TbCN5 Polycarbonitrides at Megabar Pressures

Inorganic ternary metal-C-N compounds with covalently bonded C-N anions encompass important classes of solids such as cyanides and carbodiimides, well known at ambient conditions and composed of [CN]- and [CN2]2- anions, as well as the high-pressure formed guanidinates featuring [CN3]5- anion. At still higher pressures, carbon is expected to be 4-fold coordinated by nitrogen atoms, but hitherto, such CN4-built anions are missing. In this study, four polycarbonitride compounds (LaCN3, TbCN3, CeCN5, and TbCN5) are synthesized in laser-heated diamond anvil cells at pressures between 90 and 111 GPa. Synchrotron single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD) reveals that their crystal structures are built of a previously unobserved anionic single-bonded carbon-nitrogen three-dimensional (3D) framework consisting of CN4 tetrahedra connected via di- or oligo-nitrogen linkers. A crystal-chemical analysis demonstrates that these polycarbonitride compounds have similarities to lanthanide silicon phosphides. Decompression experiments reveal the existence of LaCN3 and CeCN5 compounds over a very large pressure range. Density functional theory (DFT) supports these discoveries and provides further insight into the stability and physical properties of the synthesized compounds.

Stabilization Of The CN3 5- Anion In Recoverable High-pressure Ln3 O2 (CN3 ) (Ln=La, Eu, Gd, Tb, Ho, Yb) Oxoguanidinates

A series of isostructural Ln3 O2 (CN3 ) (Ln=La, Eu, Gd, Tb, Ho, Yb) oxoguanidinates was synthesized under high-pressure (25-54 GPa) high-temperature (2000-3000 K) conditions in laser-heated diamond anvil cells. The crystal structure of this novel class of compounds was determined via synchrotron single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD) as well as corroborated by X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) measurements and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The Ln3 O2 (CN3 ) solids are composed of the hitherto unknown CN3 5- guanidinate anion-deprotonated guanidine. Changes in unit cell volumes and compressibility of Ln3 O2 (CN3 ) (Ln=La, Eu, Gd, Tb, Ho, Yb) compounds are found to be dictated by the lanthanide contraction phenomenon. Decompression experiments show that Ln3 O2 (CN3 ) compounds are recoverable to ambient conditions. The stabilization of the CN3 5- guanidinate anion at ambient conditions provides new opportunities in inorganic and organic synthetic chemistry.

Closing the yellow gap with Eu- and Tb-doped GaN: one luminescent host resulting in three colours

Gallium nitride (GaN) is a key material when it comes to light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and has pushed the LED revolution in lighting and displays. The concept of down-conversion of a GaN-based blue LED offers the possibility to provide efficient generation of monochromatic, high-color purity light resulting in a highly efficient warm-white all-nitride phosphor-converted light emitting diode (pc-LED). Although the down conversion of blue light from InGaN LEDs has become a dominant technique for producing white light, there are still some technical challenges, e.g. the immiscibility of GaN and InN and the lattice mismatch between the substrate and InGaN, that have to be overcome. Here we demonstrate the doping of bulk GaN with europium, terbium and the combination of both resulting in intriguing luminescence properties, pushing the role of GaN:Eu,Tb as a chief component in future light emitting diodes. This colour tuning proves that one luminescence host can provide three colours (red, green and orange) and that even the so called “yellow gap” could be closed with a III-nitride. By using one material for all colours, it will be possible to overcome the technical challenges in building up LED devices, which will open up new capabilities for modern highly efficient phosphors.

Eu- and Tb-adsorbed Si3N4 and Ge3N4: tuning the colours with one luminescent host

The adsorption of europium and terbium at the grain boundaries of bulk β-Si3N4 and β-Ge3N4 and the synergic combination of both results in intriguing luminescence properties of all compounds (red, green, orange and yellow).

PbCN2 – an elucidation of its modifications and morphologies

Concerning the crystal structure of PbCN2 there exist two different descriptions in the literature, one based on the non-centrosymmetric structure, space group Pna21, another one on the centrosymmetric one in space group Pnma. To elucidate the conditions for their appearance, comprehensive preparative and structural investigations have been conducted which proved the existence of two distinct modifications of PbCN2. A detailed comparison of the two phases is provided. The growth conditions and crystallization processes of the two PbCN2 structures are reported with focus on the influence of the pH value on the products. Depending on the growth conditions several different morphologies arise, namely PbCN2 in needle-shaped and platelet-shaped crystals, as well as pompon-shaped and lance-shaped crystals.

14N, 13C, and 119Sn solid-state NMR characterization of tin(II) carbodiimide Sn(NCN)

We report the first magic-angle spinning (MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) study on Sn(NCN). In this compound the spatially elongated (NCN)2− ion is assumed to develop two distinct forms: either cyanamide (N≡C–N2−) or carbodiimide (−N=C=N−). Our 14N MAS NMR results reveal that in Sn(NCN) the (NCN)2− groups exist exclusively in the form of symmetric carbodiimide ions with two equivalent nitrogen sites, which is in agreement with the X-ray diffraction data. The 14N quadrupolar coupling constant | C Q | $\vert {C}_{\text{Q}}\vert $  ≈ 1.1 MHz for the −N=C=N− ion in Sn(NCN) is low when compared to those observed in molecular compounds that comprise cyano-type N≡C– moieties ( | C Q | $\vert {C}_{\text{Q}}\vert $  > 3.5 MHz). This together with the information from 14N and 13C chemical shifts indicates that solid-state NMR is a powerful tool for providing atomic-level insights into anion species present in these compounds. The experimental NMR results are corroborated by high-level calculations with quantum chemistry methods.

Realizing Fast Charge Diffusion in Oriented Iron Carbodiimide Structure for High-Rate Sodium-Ion Storage Performance

Iron carbodiimide (FeNCN) belongs to a type of metal compounds with a more covalent bonding structure compared to common transition metal oxides. It could provide possibilities for various structural designs with improved charge-transfer kinetics in battery systems. Moreover, these possibilities are still highly expected for promoting enhancement in rate performance of sodium (Na)-ion battery. Herein, oriented FeNCN crystallites were grown on the carbon-based substrate with exposed {010} faces along the [001] direction (O-FeNCN/S). It provides a high Na-ion storage capacity with excellent rate capability (680 mAh g^-1 at 0.2 A g^-1 and 360 mAh g^-1 at 20 A g^-1), presenting rapid charge-transfer kinetics with high contribution of pseudocapacitance during a typical conversion reaction. This high rate performance is attributed to the oriented morphology of FeNCN crystallites. Its orientation along [001] maintains preferred Na-ion diffusion along the two directions in the entire morphology of O-FeNCN/S, supporting fast Na-ion storage kinetics during the charge/discharge process. This study could provide ideas toward the understanding of the rational structural design of metal carbodiimides for attaining high electrochemical performance in future.