Temperature controlled formation of polar copper phosphonates showing large dielectric anisotropy and a dehydration-induced switch from ferromagnetic to antiferromagnetic interactions

Two quasi-spherical molecules [1,4-diazabicyclo(3.2.2)nonane]X (X = ClO4, ReO4) exhibit switchable phase transition, dielectric and second-harmonic-generation properties

Two quasi-spherical molecules [3.2.2-Hdabc]X (1,4-diazabicyclo[3.2.2]nonane = 3.2.2-dabcn, X = ClO4, ReO4) with a high phase transition temperature exhibited switchable phase transition as well as dielectric and SHG properties.

Uranyl phosphonates: crystalline materials and nanosheets for temperature sensing

Ultrathin nanosheets of luminescent metal-organic frameworks or coordination polymers have been widely used for sensing ions, solvents and biomolecules but, as far as we are aware, not yet used for temperature sensing. Herein we report two luminescent uranyl phosphonates based on 2-(phosphonomethyl)benzoic acid (2-pmbH₃), namely (UO₂)(2-pmbH₂)₂ (1) and (H₃O)[(UO₂)₂(2-pmb)(2-pmbH)] (2). The former has a supramolecular layer structure, composed of chains of corner-sharing {UO₆} octahedra and {PO₃C} tetrahedra which are connected by hydrogen bonds between phosphonate and carboxylic groups. Compound 2 possesses a unique 2D anionic framework structure, where the inorganic uranyl phosphonate chains made up of {UO₇} and {PO₃C} polyhedra are cross-linked by 2-pmb^3- ligands. The carboxylic groups of 2-pmbH^2- ligands are pendant on the two sides of the layers and form hydrogen bonds between the layers. Both compounds can be exfoliated in acetone via a top-down freeze-thaw method, resulting in nanosheets of two-layer thickness. Interestingly, the photoluminescence (PL) of 1 and 2 is highly temperature sensitive. Variable temperature PL studies revealed that compounds 1 and 2 can be used as thermometers in the temperature ranges 120-300 K and 100-280 K, respectively. By doping the nanosheets into polymer matrix, 1-ns@PMMA and 2-ns@PMMA were prepared. The PL intensity of 1-ns@PMMA is insensitive to temperature, unlike that of the bulk sample. While 2-ns@PMMA exhibits similar temperature-dependent luminescence behaviour to its bulk counterpart, thereby enabling its potential application as a thermometer in the temperature range 100-280 K.

Polar layered coordination polymers incorporating triazacyclononane-triphosphonate metalloligands

Reactions of metalloligands M^III(notpH₃) (M = Fe, Co and notpH₆ = 1,4,7-triazacyclononane-1,4,7-triyl-tris(methylenephosphonic acid)) with Zn(OAc)₂ under hydrothermal conditions resulted in new metal phosphonates Zn₂Fe(notp)Cl(H₂O) (1) and ZnCo(notpH)(H₂O)·2H₂O (2). They crystallize in polar space groups P6₃ (for 1) and Pca2₁ (for 2), respectively, and exhibit layer structures in which the inorganic layers are separated by the organic groups of the notp ligands. However, the layer topologies of the two compounds are quite different. In 1, the layer contains 6-membered rings composed of one {FeN₃O₃} octahedron, one {Zn1O₃Cl}, one {Zn2O₄} and three {PO₃C} tetrahedra via corner-sharing connections, while in 2, the layer contains 10-membered rings composed of two {CoO₃N₃} octahedra, three {ZnO₄} and five {PO₃C} tetrahedra via vertex-sharing connections. Dielectric measurements on single crystals of 2 confirmed the presence of high dielectric anisotropy. Proton conductivity measurements revealed that the proton conduction is more favourable in 2 due to the presence of a continuous hydrogen bond network in this compound.