Syntheses, Crystal Structures, and Optical and Photocatalytic Properties of Four Small-Amine-Molecule-Directed M–Sn–Q (M = Zn, Ag; Q = S, Se) Compounds

Abstract

By utilizing different small amine molecules as structure-affecting agents (SAAs) and charge-balancing agents (CBAs), four new M–Sn–Q (M = Zn, Ag; Q = S, Se) compounds with the anionic architectures ranging from a one-dimensional (1D) chain to a three-dimensional (3D) network have been solvothermally synthesized. Compound [(Me)2NH2]2ZnSn3Se8 (1) features an anionic (4,4) layer of [ZnSn3Se8]n2n– and represents a rare [ZnSn3Se10] T2 cluster-based two-dimensional Zn–Sn–Se compound directed by organic amine. Compound [NH4]3AgSn3Se8 (2) contains infinite linear anionic chains of [AgSn3Se8]n3n–. Compound [CH3NH3]2[H3O]Ag5Sn4Se12·C2H5OH (3) exhibits a 3D open-framework structure of [Ag5Sn4Se12]n3n– with intersecting 3D channels. Compound [CH3NH3]6Ag12Sn6S21 (4) features a 3D framework structure with 1D channels filled by [CH3NH3]+ cations. The most fascinating structural feature of compound 4 is that a complex 3D [Ag12S17]n22n– anionic network exists based on the combination of three types of basic building bloc...