M(bipyridine)V4O10 (M = Cu, Ag): Hybrid Analogues of Low-Dimensional Reduced Vanadates

Abstract

New hybrid layered vanadates, M(bpy)V4O10 (I, M = Cu+; II, M = Ag+; bpy = 4,4'-bipyridine), were prepared from hydrothermal reactions at 220-230 degrees C, and their structures were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction [I, P21/c (No. 14), Z = 4, a = 3.6154(3) A, b = 21.217(1) A, c = 20.267(1) A, and beta = 90.028(3) degrees ; II, P (No. 2), Z = 2, a = 3.5731(4) A, b = 10.429(1) A, c = 21.196(2) A, alpha = 89.031(5) degrees , beta = 89.322(5) degrees , and gamma = 85.546(5) degrees ]. The structures of I and II are closely related, though not isostructurally, with both containing partially reduced V4O10- layers that are constructed from zigzag chains of edge-sharing VO5 tetragonal pyramids. Neighboring zigzag chains within a layer condense via shared vertices and alternate between versions containing V4.5+ and V5+ ions, such that two out of four symmetry-unique V atoms are reduced by a half-electron on average. The interlayer spaces contain unusual M(bpy)+ chains formed from the coordination of two bridging bpy ligands to Ag+/Cu+ in a nearly linear fashion and each with a third bond to a single apical O atom of the reduced (V4.5+) VO5 tetragonal pyramids. Both I and II are stable until approximately 350-400 degrees C in O2, at which point the ligands are liberated to yield the purely inorganic MxV4O10 (M = Ag, Cu) solids. The electrical conductivities of both compounds show a temperature dependence that is consistent with Mott's variable-range-hopping model for randomly localized electrons. Magnetic susceptibilities of both I and II can be fitted to a Curie-Weiss expression (theta = -25 and -31 K, respectively; C approximately 0.40 emu.mol-1.K for both) at higher temperatures and one unpaired spin per formula. However, at below approximately 12-18 K, both show evidence for an antiferromagnetic transition that can be fitted well to the Heisenberg linear antiferromagnetic chain model. These results are analyzed with respect to related reduced vanadates and help to provide new structure-property insights for strongly correlated electron systems.