The luminescent semiconductor Pb7I6(CN2)4

The development of new compounds in the domain of metal dinitridocarbonates is most efficiently performed via solid-state metathesis or simply by addition reactions. Our discovery of Pb7I6(CN2)4 is the result of a solid-state reaction of PbCN2 with PbI2 at 420 °C. Its crystal structure was solved and refined from X-ray diffraction data based on a single crystal with the space group P63/mmc. The crystal structure is based on a network of lead tetrahedra, lead trigonal bipyramids and lead octahedra interconnected by [NCN]2- and iodide. Properties of the material were investigated by diffuse reflection measurement, photoluminescence measurements, and electronic band structure calculations demonstrating that this material is a semiconductor.

AB11O16(OH)2 (A = K and Cs): interpenetrating 2D layers with large birefringence

By a cation substitution strategy, two new hydroxyborates AB₁₁O₁₆(OH)₂ (A = K and Cs) were synthesized, and KB₁₁O₁₆(OH)₂ exhibits a short DUV cutoff edge (195 nm) and a large birefringence.

The synthesis, characterization, and theoretical analysis of (NH4)3PbCl5

(NH₄)₃PbCl₅ features a 3D structure with a short UV cutoff edge of 256 nm and simulated birefringence of about 0.050 at 1064 nm.