Ein neuescis-[Bi3I12]3−-Anion in Tri(n-butyl)methylammonium Dodecaiodotribismutat

TiCl4 Dissolved in Ionic Liquid Mixtures from ab Initio Molecular Dynamics Simulations

To gain a deeper understanding of the TiCl4 solvation effects in multi-component ionic liquids, we performed ab initio molecular dynamics simulations of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium [C4C1Im]+, tetrafluoroborate [BF4]−, chloride [Cl]− both with and without water and titanium tetrachloride TiCl4. Complex interactions between cations and anions are observed in all investigated systems. By further addition of water and TiCl4 this complex interaction network is extended. Observations of the radial distribution functions and number integrals show that water and TiCl4 not only compete with each other to interact mainly with [Cl]−, which strongly influences the cation-[BF4]− interaction, but also interact with each other, which leads to the fact that in certain systems the cation-anion interaction is enhanced. Further investigations of the Voronoi polyhedra analysis have demonstrated that water has a greater impact on the nanosegregated system than TiCl4 which is also due to the fact of the shear amount of water relative to all other components and its higher mobility compared to TiCl4. Overall, the polar network of the IL mixture collapses by including water and TiCl4. In the case of [Cl]− chloride enters the water continuum, while [BF4]− remains largely unaffected, which deeply affects the interaction of the ionic liquid (IL) network.

Synthesis, structure and optoelectronic properties of hybrid iodobismuthate & iodoantimonate semiconducting materials

The syntheses, structures and optical absorption spectra of five iodobismuthate and nine iodoantimonate hybrid materials are presented.

A Molecular Level Understanding of Template Effects in Ionic Liquids

The structure-directing or template effect has been invoked several times for ionic liquids to explain the different outcome in material synthesis, namely, different scaffolds or geometrical arrangements with varying ionic liquids. It is obvious to assume that such an effect can originate from the most likely complex microstructure, being present within the ionic liquid itself. In that regard, ionic liquids have already been shown to undergo a nanosegregation into polar and nonpolar phases, which is commonly known and denoted as microheterogeneity. In order to provide detailed insight on the molecular level and to understand the effects rising from this structuring, we performed molecular dynamics simulations on selected very simple model systems composed of 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, considering ethyl, butyl, hexyl, and octyl side chains attached to the cations, mixed with either n-dodecanol or n-butanol. By analyzing snapshots of the simulation boxes and calculating spatial distribution functions, we can visualize that with increasing side chains, the systems show considerable nanosegregation into polar and nonpolar domains. Combined angular and distance distribution functions show that in case of the nanosegregating systems the side chains of the cations are preferentially arranged in a parallel fashion, which indicates a micelle-like structure for the ionic liquids. The alcohol molecules participate in and are, therefore, influenced by this microheterogeneity. It can be shown that in the case of the short IL alkyl side chains, the self-aggregation of the nonpolar units of the alcohols is much stronger, while for the long chain cations, the nonpolar entities of the alcohols are most often connected to the nonpolar units of the ionic liquids. Using our domain analysis tool, we can quantify these observations by tracking the number, size, and shape of the polar and nonpolar entities present in the different investigated systems. The aforementioned combined angular-distance distribution functions reveal a structure-directing effect of the ionic liquids on the alcohol molecules within our simple model systems. The ionic liquids act as template and order the alcohol molecules according to their own structure, resulting in a parallel alignment of the alkyl side chains of the alcohols and ionic liquid cations, with both polar groups being at the same side. These observations show that the microheterogeneous structure of ionic liquids can indeed be applied to order substrates with respect to each other or, for example, to catalysts in a predetermined fashion, opening new possibilities for explaining or enhancing selectivities of chemical reactions in ionic liquids.

Synthesis and structure of pseudo-three dimensional hybrid iodobismuthate semiconductors

The synthesis, structures and semiconducting properties of three isostructural, piperazinium-cation based iodobismuthates, [NH₂(CH₂)₄NH₂][BiI₄]₂·4H₂O, [CH₃NH(CH₂)₄NH₂][BiI₄]₂·3H₂O and [CH₃NH(CH₂)₄HNCH₃][BiI₄]₂·2H₂O, are reported. The materials have pseudo-three dimensional structures consisting of infinite chains formed from edge/face sharing [BiI₆] octahedra with short interchain II interactions of <3.8 Å. The materials have band gaps of ∼1.9-2.0 eV and show variable optoelectronic properties based on the degree of methylation of the templating piperazinium ring-based organic species and the accordingly associated level of solvation in the structure.

Manifestation of helicity in one-dimensional iodobismuthate

The first example of an inorganic–organic hybrid material incorporating a helical iodobismuthate [BiI₄]_∞ is presented.

Synthesis of Bi2Te3and (BixSb1−x)2Te3nanoparticles using the novel IL [C4mim]3[Bi3I12]

[C₄mim]₃[Bi₃I₁₂] is a promising Bi-source for the ionothermal synthesis of binary (Bi₂Te₃) and ternary tetradymite-type nanoparticles (Bi_xSb_1−x)₂Te₃(x= 0.25, 0.5, 0.75) in ionic liquid.

Crystal structures and photocatalytic properties of two novel iodoplumbate hybrids templated by multivalent organic cations

Two novel multivalent organic cation-templated iodoplumbate hybrids with trinuclear or 1D anionic structures and good photocatalytic performances are reported.

Ionic liquids: new perspectives for inorganic synthesis?

Ionic liquids are credited with a number of unusual properties. These include a low vapor pressure, a wide liquid-phase range, weakly coordinating properties, and a high thermal/chemical stability. These properties are certainly of great interest for inorganic synthesis and the creation of novel inorganic compounds. On the other hand, the synthesis repertoire for preparing inorganic compounds has always been broad, ranging from syntheses in solutions and melts to solid-state reactions, and from crystal growth in the gas phase to high-pressure syntheses. What new aspects can ionic liquids then add to the synthesis of inorganic compounds? This Minireview uses some early examples to show that the use of ionic liquids indeed provides access to unusual inorganic compounds.

A double salt of iodo-bis-muthate: cis-aqua-iodidobis(1,10-phenanthroline)cobalt(II) tris-(1,10-phenanthroline)cobalt(II) trans-hexa-μ(2)-iodido-hexa-iodidotribismuthate(III)

In the title complex, [Co(C(12)H(8)N(2))(3)][CoI(C(12)H(8)N(2))(2)(H(2)O)][Bi(3)I(12)], conventionally abbreviated [Co(phen)(3)][CoI(phen)(2)(H(2)O)][Bi(3)I(12)], where phen is 1,10-phenanthroline, the Co(II) atom in one cation is coordinated by six N atoms from three phen ligands in an octa-hedral coordination while the Co(II) atom in the other cation is coordinated octa-hedrally by four N atoms from two phen ligands, one water O atom and one I atom. In the anion, three Bi(III) ions adopt an octa-hedral coordination constructed by six I(-) ligands. The three BiI(6) octa-hedra are fused together through trans face-sharing.

A Series of New Copper Iodobismuthates: Structural Relationships, Optical Band Gaps Affected by Dimensionality, and Distinct Thermal Stabilities

Three new copper iodobismuthates, red tetranuclear [n-Bu(4)N][Cu(2)(CH(3)CN)(2)Bi(2)I(10)] (1), dark-red infinite linear [Et(4)N](2n)[Cu(2)Bi(2)I(10)](n) (2), and black polymeric ladderlike [Cu(CH(3)CN)(4)](2n)[Cu(2)Bi(2)I(10)](n) (3), crystallize from solutions of BiI3 and CuI in the presence of different cations. A regular structural relationship from 0-D (1) to 1-D linear anion chains (2) to 1-D ladderlike anion chains (3) is observed. The self-assembly of the basic building unit Cu(2)Bi(2)I(10) as altered by different cations is proposed to be the driving force for their formation. The optical band gaps exhibit a structure-related decrease from 1 to 2/3, in agreement with their color changes and the density functional theory (DFT) calculation results. The electronic structures and the relationship with corresponding monobismuth analogues and the Ag-Bi isotypes are discussed on the basis of DFT calculations. In spite of their structural similarities, the compounds are distinctive thermally: 2 is stable to 230 degrees C, 1 undergoes a solvent loss at 85 degrees C to form a new phase that is thermally stable to 230 degrees C, and 3 releases a solvent molecule and decomposes at 80 degrees C into BiI(3) and CuI. The essential reasons for these differences are discussed.

Silver Iodobismuthates: Syntheses, Structures, Properties, and Theoretical Studies of [Bi2Ag2I102-]n and [Bi4Ag2I162-]n

Two novel silver iodobismuthates have been obtained: (Et4N)2n-[Bi2Ag2I10]n (1) with one-dimensional infinite chains built from bimetallic tetranuclear units and (Et4N)2n[Bi4Ag2I16]n (2) with a two-dimensional 44 grid assembly of the tetranuclear Bi4I16 subunits as nodes and Ag atoms as linkages. Their optical band gaps, 2.05 and 1.93 eV, fit nicely in a size correlation of the Bi/I subunit, which is further supported by the density functional theory studies.