Construction of 1D to 3D cadmium(II) coordination polymers from 4-(imidazol-1-yl)-benzoic acid: Effect of bridging anions

Anion-dependent self-assembly of copper coordination polymers based on pyrazole-3,5-dicarboxylate and 1,2-di(4-pyridyl)ethylene

By utilizing a pyrazole-3,5-dicarboxylic acid (H₃pzdc) and flexible 1,2-di(4-pyridyl)ethylene (dpe) with various copper(ii) salts under the same solvothermal synthetic conditions, six novel coordination polymers, namely, {[Cu₂(pzdc)(dpe)₂]X}_n (X = NO₃^- (1), ClO₄^- (2), BF₄^- (3), SCN^- (4)), {[Cu(ii)₄Cu(i)₄(pzdc)₄(dpe)₆](H₂O)₄}_2n (5), and {[Cu₅(HPO₄)₂ (pzdc)₂(dpe)₃](H₂O)₅}_n (6) were obtained. The structural diversity of compounds 1-6 depends on the starting Cu(ii) salts. Compounds 1-4 are isostructural and exhibit a 3D porous cationic pillar-layered coordination framework with lattice monoanions incorporated into the channels of the framework. When using copper(ii) sulfate as a reagent, a neutral mixed-valence Cu(i,ii) 2D + 2D → 2D parallel interpenetrated layer of 5 was obtained. In the case of a phosphate trianion, compound 6 shows a 3D coordination framework which contains μ₄-HPO₄^2- linking between Cu(ii) centers. The anion-exchange properties of 1-4 were studied. Interestingly, compounds 1-4 exhibit the irreversible chemisorption of the thiocyanate anion instead of anion exchange without the destruction of their structural framework as confirmed by PXRD, IR, UV-Vis, and AA spectroscopy. Moreover, the anion-induced structural transformation of 1-4 was observed when exchanging with an azide anion. The luminescent properties of 1-6 and exchanged products were also investigated.

Advanced Cd(II) complexes as high efficiency co-sensitizers for enhanced dye-sensitized solar cell performance

This work reports on two new complexes with the general formula [Cd3(IBA)3(Cl)2(HCOO)(H2O)]n (1) and {[Cd1.5(IBA)3(H2O)6]·3.5H2O}n (2), which can be synthesized by the reaction of Cd(II) with rigid linear ligand 4-HIBA containing imidazolyl and carboxylate functional groups [4-HIBA = 4-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)benzoic acid]. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses indicate that complex 1 is a 2D "wave-like" layer structure constructed from trinuclear units and complex 2 is just a mononuclear structure. Surprisingly, both complexes 1 and 2 appear as a 3D supramolecular network via intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions. What's more, due to their strong UV-visible absorption, 1 and 2 can be employed as co-sensitizers in combination with N719 to enhance dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) performance. Both of them could overcome the deficiency of the ruthenium complex N719 absorption in the region of ultraviolet and blue-violet, and the charge collection efficiency is also improved when 1 and 2 are used as co-sensitizers, which are all in favor of enhancing the performance. The DSSC devices using co-sensitizers of 1/N719 and 2/N719 show an overall conversion efficiency of 8.27% and 7.73% with a short circuit current density of 17.48 mA cm(-2) and 17.39 mA cm(-2), and an open circuit voltage of 0.75 V and 0.74 V, respectively. The overall conversion efficiency is 27.23% and 18.92% higher than that of a device solely sensitized by N719 (6.50%). Consequently, the prepared complexes are high efficiency co-sensitizers for enhancing the performance of N719 sensitized solar cells.

Crystal structures and luminescence properties of two Cd(II) complexes based on 2-(1H-imidazol-1-methyl)-6-methyl-1H-benzimidazole

Two new complexes, {[Cd(immb)I2]·DMF} n (1) and {[Cd3(immb)(btc)2]·H2O} n (2) (immb = 2-(1H-imidazol- 1-methyl)-6-methyl-1H-benzimidazole, btc = 1,2,3-benzenetricarboxylate, DMF = dimethyl formamide), have been synthesized and characterized. Single crystal X-ray diffraction shows that 1 exhibits a chain structure constructed by immb ligands bridging Cd(II) ions. In 2, Cd(II) ions are linked by immb ligands with bridging mode and btc3– anions with the μ 2-η 2:η 1 bonding pattern leading to a 2D structure. Luminescent properties have been investigated in the solid state at room temperature.

Anion-dependent assemblies of a series of Cd(ii) coordination complexes based on an asymmetric multi-dentate ligand and inorganic SBUs: syntheses, crystal structures, and fluorescent properties

Six novel Cd(ii) complexes based 1-(benzotriazole-1-methyl)-2- propylimidazole are synthesized. These complexes share common features such as they all contain inorganic SBUs and have a high degree of dependence on the corresponding counter anions.