ber Thio-, Selenido- und Telluridogermanate (III): Zur Kenntnis von K6Ge2S6, K6Ge2Se6 und Na6Ge2Te6

Improved Birefringence Activated by Tetrahedra Decorated with a Single Linear Unit

Performance enhancement induced by structural modification has long been the target in materials science fields. Direct evidence to witness the effectivity of one strategy is challenging and necessary. In this work, a tetrahedra-decoration strategy was proposed to improve the birefringent performance sharply, namely decorating the tetrahedra with a single linear [S2 ] unit. The strategy was verified by comprehensive characterization of two thiogermanates K2 BaGeS4 and K2 BaGeS5 , which crystallize in the same space group, have similar unit cells and the same units arrangements. Theoretical characterization verified that the [GeS5 ] group has much larger polarization anisotropy than [GeS4 ], further demonstrated that the linear [S2 ] led to the sharp birefringence enlargement of K2 BaGeS5 (0.19 vs 0.03 of K2 BaGeS4 ). This work provides a new guiding thought to improve the birefringence performance.

Germanium Antimony Bonding in Ba4Ge2Sb2Te10 with Low Thermal Conductivity

A new quaternary telluride, Ba₄Ge₂Sb₂Te₁₀, was synthesized at high temperature via the reaction of elements. A single-crystal X-ray diffraction study shows that the title compound crystallizes in its own structure type in the monoclinic P2₁/c space group having cell dimensions of a = 13.984(3) Å, b = 13.472(3) Å, c = 13.569(3) Å, and β = 90.16(3)° with four formula units per unit cell (Z = 4). The pseudo-one-dimensional crystal structure of Ba₄Ge₂Sb₂Te₁₀ consists of infinite ₁^∞[Ge₂Sb₂Te₁₀]^8- stripes, which are separated by Ba²⁺ cations. Each of the Ge(1) atoms is covalently bonded to four Te atoms, whereas the Ge(2) atom is covalently bonded with one Sb(2) and three Te atoms in a distorted tetrahedral geometry. The title compound is the first example of a chalcogenide that shows Ge-Sb bonding. The Sb(1) atom is present at the center of the seesaw geometry of four Te atoms. In contrast, the Sb(2) atom forms a seesaw geometry by coordinating with one Ge(2) and three Te atoms. Condensation of these Ge and Sb centered polyhedral units lead to the formation of ₁^∞[Ge₂Sb₂Te₁₀]^8- stripes. The temperature-dependent resistivity study suggests the semimetallic/degenerate semiconducting nature of polycrystalline Ba₄Ge₂Sb₂Te₁₀. The positive sign of Seebeck coefficient values indicates that the predominant charge carriers are holes in Ba₄Ge₂Sb₂Te₁₀. An extremely low lattice thermal conductivity of ∼0.34 W/mK at 773 K was observed for polycrystalline Ba₄Ge₂Sb₂Te₁₀, which is presumably due to the lattice anharmonicity induced by the stereochemically active 5s² lone pair of Sb. The electronic structure of Ba₄Ge₂Sb₂Te₁₀ and the bonding of atom pairs in the structure have been analyzed by means of ELF analysis and crystal orbital Hamilton population (COHP) analysis.

The Reduced Nitridogermanates(III) Ca6 [Ge2 N6 ] and Sr6 [Ge2 N6 ] with Ge-Ge Bonds

The first nitridogermanates(III) Ca₆[Ge₂N₆] and Sr₆[Ge₂N₆] were synthesized from sodium flux and structurally characterized by powder and single crystal X‐ray diffraction, respectively. They crystallize isostructurally to each other and homeotypic to Ca₆[Cr₂N₆]H in space group R3‾ . They feature unprecedented, mutually isolated, ethane‐like [Ge^III₂N₆]¹²⁻ anions in a staggered conformation. The compounds are semiconductors according to resistivity measurements and electronic structure calculations, yielding band gaps of 1.1 eV for Ca₆[Ge₂N₆] and 0.2 eV for Sr₆[Ge₂N₆].

Ba2Ge2Te5: a ternary NLO-active telluride with unusual one-dimensional helical chains and giant second harmonic-generation tensors

The linear-optical and NLO properties of a ternary NLO-active telluride, Ba2Ge2Te5, were investigated systematically at the experimental and theoretical levels for the first time.

Stepwise Conversion from GeO2 to [MGe4S10]n3n- (M = Cu, Ag) Polymer via Isolatable [Ge2S6]4- and [Ge4S10]4- Anions by Virtue of Templating Technique

Rational synthesis of inorganic matter remains a great challenge encountered with modern synthetic chemistry. Here we reported the stepwise solvothermal conversion from GeO₂ to [MGe₄S₁₀]_n^3n- (M = Cu, Ag) polymer via isolatable [Ge₂S₆]^4- and [Ge₄S₁₀]^4- anions by virtue of templating technique. The facile sulfuration of GeO₂ resulted in the methylammonium-templated dimeric thiogermanate [CH₃NH₃]₄Ge₂S₆ (1). This was used subsequently as a precursor for the formation of adamantane-like [Ge₄S₁₀]^4- cluster, which was isolated as a mixed methylammonium/ethylammonium salt [CH₃CH₂NH₃]₃[CH₃NH₃]Ge₄S₁₀ (2). Compound 2 was then successfully used as a precursor to react with Cu⁺ and Ag⁺ cations in the presence of tetraethylammonium, resulting in alternating copolymeric products [(CH₃CH₂)₄N]₃MGe₄S₁₀ (M = Cu (3), Ag (4)), whose anionic moieties feature a novel zigzag chainlike structure constructed by [Ge₄S₁₀]^4- clusters via two-coordinate Cu⁺/Ag⁺ linkers. Mixed amine/ethanol or deep eutectic solvents were applied as media for the syntheses of 1-4, and all the products were characterized in the solid state and solution. Crystal structural analysis of the title compounds revealed significant templating roles of the alkylammonium cations as both space-filling agents and hydrogen-bonding donors, suggesting the structure-directing mechanism for the species formation and crystal growth. The design and optimization of multistep structural conversion upon templating effects would be beneficial for drawing rational, predictable pathways for inorganic synthesis.

Cs2Ge3In6Se14: A Structure Transformation Driven by the Size Preference and Its Properties

The new selenide Cs₂Ge₃In₆Se₁₄, featuring its own structure type with germanium in mixed-valence states, is discovered via a solid-state reaction at 1173 K. The compound crystallizes in the R3̅ m space group with a = 7.9951(6) Å and c = 41.726(4) Å. Two adjacent condensed layers of InSe₄ tetrahedra are linked by a [Ge²⁺Se₆] octahedron into a double slice that is further stacked along the c direction with a packing sequence of ··· abca··· through the [Ge³⁺₂Se₆] dimer via its Ge-Ge metallic bond. The coexistence of Ge²⁺/Ge³⁺ and Ge-Ge metallic bonding has been confirmed by XPS and ELF analyses, respectively. More interestingly, although sharing many structure similarities, Cs₂Ge₃In₆Se₁₄ and our previously reported Cs₂Ge₃In₆Te₁₄ reveal a R3̅ m to P3̅ m1 structure transformation with a tripled c parameter. Single-crystal diffraction data and a thorough structure survey of related compounds point out that such a transformation is driven by the size preference of the [Ge₂Q₆] dimer. The title compound possesses a band gap of 2.08 eV and shows photodegradation of RhB under visible light that is more efficient than that for the commercial P25.

MAu2GeS4-Chalcogel (M = Co, Ni): Heterogeneous Intra- and Intermolecular Hydroamination Catalysts

High surface area macroporous chalcogenide aerogels (chalcogels) MAu₂GeS₄ (M = Co, Ni) were prepared from K₂Au₂GeS₄ precursor and Co(OAc)₂ or NiCl₂ by one-pot sol-gel metathesis reactions in aqueous media. The MAu₂GeS₄-chalcogels were screened for catalytic intramolecular hydroamination of 4-pentyn-1-amine substrate at different temperatures. 87% and 58% conversion was achieved at 100 °C, using CoAu₂GeS₄- and NiAu₂GeS₄-chalcogels respectively, and the reaction kinetics follows the first order. It was established that the catalytic performance of the aerogels is associated with the M²⁺ centers present in the structure. Intermolecular hydroamination of aniline with 1-R-4-ethynylbenzene (R = -H, -OCH₃, -Br, -F) was carried out at 100 °C using CoAu₂GeS₄-chalcogel catalyst, due to its promising catalytic performance. The CoAu₂GeS₄-chalcogel regioselectively converted the pair of substrates to respective Markovnikov products, (E)-1-(4-R-phenyl)-N-phenylethan-1-imine, with 38% to 60% conversion.

Na9Sb(Ge2Q6)2(Q = S, Se): two new antimony(iii) quaternary chalcogenides with ethane-like [Ge2Q6]6−ligands

The changing character from different orientations of M–M bonds (M = Si, Ge) in quaternary chalcogenides was systematically studied.

An investigation of new infrared nonlinear optical material: BaCdSnSe4, and three new related centrosymmetric compounds: Ba2SnSe4, Mg2GeSe4, and Ba2Ge2S6

The crystal-structures and properties of new four compounds were systematically reported and non-centrosymmetric BaCdSnSe₄showed a good SHG response.

Synthesis of a Family of Solids through the Building-Block Approach: A Case Study with Ag+ Substitution in the Ternary Na−Ge−Se System

A new family of Ag-substituted pseudoquaternary alkali-seleno-germanates has been synthesized by two solid-state routes: the conventional flux method and metathesis. This family includes a series of semiconductors with varying amounts of Ag+ substituted for Na+ in Na8Ge4Se10 to form AgxNa(8-x)Ge4Se10, [x = 0.31 (I), 0.67 (II), 0.77 (III), 0.87 (IV), 1.05 (V), 1.09 (VI)] and another phase with a different composition AgxNa(6-x)Ge2Se7 (x = 1.76), VII, related to Na6Ge2Se7. In I-VI, Ge4Se10(8-) constitutes a 6-membered chairlike unit with a Ge-Ge bond, while in VII, a corner-shared dimer of GeSe4 tetrahedra (Ge2Se76-) acts as the building unit. The single-crystal structure analysis indicates that there is a phase transition from P to C2/c, in changing from pure Na8Ge4Se10 to AgxNa(8-x)Ge4 Se10 (I-VI), while there is no phase transition between pure Na6Ge2Se7 and AgxNa(6-x)Ge2Se7 (x = 1.76). The structures of I-VI may be described in terms of layers of cubic close-packed Se2- anions. In between the Se layers, octahedral holes fully occupied by Na+ and mixed Ag+/Na+ cations alternate with layers formed of octahedral holes fully occupied by Na+ and Ge26+ cations. Two adjacent Ge26+ cations form a chairlike Ge4Se10(8-) anion in which Ge-Ge bonds are oriented almost parallel to the Se layers. In contrast, VII does not have close-packed anions. Corner-shared GeSe4 tetrahedra (Ge2Se7(6-) dimer) and AgSe4 tetrahedra form layers that are cross-linked by Na/AgSe4 tetrahedra to form a 3-dimensional (3-D) structure. An optical property investigation indicates a red shift in the band gap of AgxNa(8-x)Ge4Se10 (x = 0.67)(II) as compared to that of pure Na8Ge4Se10. Raman data also indicate a red shift of the Ge-Se stretching mode in the Ag+-substituted phase II (x = 0.67) compared to that of Na8Ge4Se10.

Synthesis and characterization of four new europium group XIV chalcogenides: K(2)EuTSe(5) and KEuTS(4) (T = Si, Ge)

Four europium group XIV chalcogenides have been synthesized using the reactive flux method: K(2)EuTSe(5) (I, II) and KEuTS(4) (III, IV) where T = Si, Ge. K(2)EuSiSe(5), I, crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/c with cell parameters a = 11.669(3) A, b = 9.844(2) A, c = 8.917(2) A, beta = 91.583(5) degrees, and Z = 4. K(2)EuGeSe(5), II, crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/c with cell parameters a = 11.8056(3) A, b = 9.9630(1) A, c = 8.9456(1) A, beta = 91.195(1) degrees, and Z = 4. Both K(2)EuSiSe(5) and K(2)EuGeSe(5) are semiconductors with optical band-gaps of approximately 2.00 and 1.84 eV, respectively. Raman spectroscopy shows vibrations from the (TSe(5))(4-) (T = Si, Ge) unit. KEuSiS(4), III, crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1) with cell parameters a = 6.426(4) A, b = 6.582(5) A, c = 8.566(7) A, beta = 107.83(6) degrees, and Z = 2. KEuGeS(4), IV, crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1) with cell parameters a = 6.510(2) A, b = 6.649(2) A, c = 8.603(3) A, beta = 107.80(2) degrees, and Z = 2. Band-gap analysis shows that both compounds are semiconductors with optical band-gaps of 1.72 and 1.71 eV, respectively. The Raman spectrum of KEuGeS(4) shows the vibrations of the (GeS(4))(4-) unit. Fluorescence spectroscopy confirms the presence of Eu(III) in III and IV instead of Eu(II) as in I and II. These four crystalline products were formed under equivalent stoichiometric reaction conditions. The fact that two different products are observed can be used to understand the relationship between the oxidative and reductive potentials within these flux reactions.