Synthesis, Structure, Magnetic and Optical Properties of Ternary Thio-germanates:Ln4(GeS4)3 (Ln = Ce, Nd)

Synthesis, Crystal Structure, and Liquid Exfoliation of Layered Lanthanide Sulfides KLn2CuS6 (Ln = La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm)

Among the great amount of known lanthanide nanoparticles, reports devoted to chalcogenide ones are deficient. The properties of such nanoparticles remain almost unknown due to the lack of simple and proper synthetic methods avoiding hydrolysis and allowing preparation of oxygen-free lanthanide nanoparticles. A liquid exfoliation method was used to select the optimum strategy for the preparation of quaternary lanthanide sulfide nanoparticles. Bulk KLn₂CuS₆ (Ln = La-Sm) materials were obtained via a reactive flux method. The crystal structures of three new members of the KLn₂CuS₆ series were determined for Pr, Nd, and Sm as well as for known KLa₂CuS₆. KLn₂CuS₆ (Ln = La, Pr, Nd) compounds crystallize in the monoclinic C2 /c space group, whereas KSm₂CuS₆ crystallizes in the orthorhombic Fddd space group. The analysis of their electronic structures confirms that the main bonding interactions occur within the anionic {Ln₂CuS₆}^- layers. Due to their layered structure, exfoliation of these compounds is possible using ultrasonic treatment in appropriate solvents with the formation of colloidal solutions. Colloidal particles show a plate-like morphology with a lateral size of 100-200 nm and a thickness of 2-10 nm. Highly negative or positive charges found in isopropanol and acetonitrile dispersions, respectively, are associated with high stability and concentration of the dispersions.

A Series of Lanthanide Selenidogermanates: The First Coexistence of Three Types of Selenidogermanate Units in the Same Architecture

A series of lanthanide selenidogermanates, (H₂peha)[Ln₂(μ-OH)₂(tepa)₂Cl₂]{[Ln₂(μ-OH)₂(tepa)₂Cl]₂(μ-Ge₂Se₆)}[Ge₂Se₆]Cl₂ [Ln = Y (1a) and Er (1b); peha = pentaethylenexamine, tepa = tetraethylenepentamine], [Sm₂(μ-OH)₂(tepa)₂(μ-Ge₂Se₆)]_n (2), [Ho₂(μ-OH)₂(tepa)₂(μ-Ge₂Se₆)]_n (3), and [Ce₄(tepa)₄(μ-GeSe₄)(μ-GeSe₅)(μ-Ge₂Se₆)]_n (4), were made under solvothermal conditions. Compounds 1a and 1b contain a protonated H₂peha²⁺ ion, the complex cation [Ln₂(μ-OH)₂(tepa)₂Cl₂]²⁺, a [Ge₂Se₆]^4- anion, free Cl^- ions, and a {[Ln₂(μ-OH)₂(tepa)₂Cl]₂(μ-Ge₂Se₆)}²⁺ cation constructed by two unsaturated [Ln₂(μ-OH)₂(tepa)₂Cl]³⁺ groups connecting via the trans terminal Se atoms of the [Ge₂Se₆]^4- anion, which provides the first example of an organic decorated lanthanide selenidogermanate cation. Both compounds 2 and 3 contain one-dimensional chains [Ln₂(μ-OH)₂(tepa)₂(μ-Ge₂Se₆)]_n constructed by a combination of unsaturated complex cations [Ln₂(μ-OH)₂(tepa)₂]⁴⁺ and [Ge₂Se₆]^4- anions, but their stacking patterns of neutral chains are different. Compound 4 contains one-dimensional chain [Ce₄(tepa)₄(μ-GeSe₄)(μ-GeSe₅)(μ-Ge₂Se₆)]_n, where three different selenidogermanate units acting as bridging ligands connect unsaturated [Ce(tepa)]³⁺ ions. Compound 4 represents the first example of the coexistence of three different selenidogermanate anions in the same architecture. Their optical properties are studied, and the magnetic properties of compounds 1b and 2-4 are also investigated.

Structure of rare-earth chalcogenide glasses by neutron and x-ray diffraction

The method of neutron diffraction with isomorphic substitution was used to measure the structure of the rare-earth chalcogenide glasses [Formula: see text](Ga₂ X ₃)_0.33(GeX ₂)_0.60 with [Formula: see text] or Ce and [Formula: see text] or Se. X-ray diffraction was also used to measure the structure of the sulphide glass. The results are consistent with networks that are built from GeX ₄ and GaX ₄ tetrahedra, and give R-S and R-Se coordination numbers of 8.0(2) and 8.5(4), respectively. The minimum nearest-neighbour R-R distance associated with rare-earth clustering is discussed.