Phase Transitions in Three New Hybrid Crystals: (Me3NR)4[Ni(NCS)6] (R=Ethyl, Propyl, and Butyl)

Abstract

AbstractUnderstanding the microscopic origin of phase transitions in hybrid crystals is of significant important but challenging for designing novel phase‐transition materials. Here, three new hybrid crystals, (Me3NR)4[Ni(NCS)6] (R=ethyl for 1, propyl for 2, and butyl for 3) were synthesized and comprehensively studied on their crystal structures, intermolecular interactions, and phase transitions. They possess a same anti‐XeF4 structure mode but exhibit different phase transitions arising from their subtly changed alkyl groups. Specifically, 1 undergoes four‐step P21/c‐P21/c‐P21/c‐Pbca‐Cmce crystalline transitions at 165, 203, 244, and 280 K, respectively; 2 undergoes three‐step P212121‐Pbca‐P21/n‐P 1c crystalline transitions at 167, 393, and 410 K, respectively, following by a solid‐liquid transition at 453 K; 3 undergoes an iso‐space‐group P21/n‐P21/n crystalline phase transition at 257 K and a solid‐liquid transition at 410 K. These instances well demonstrate the key roles of delicate and complicated intermolecular interactions on inducing nontrivial phase transitions in hybrid crystals.