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A high contrast of ∼67 times, exceeding those of all known photoswitching bulk quadratic nonlinear-optical materials, has been realized in a photochromic semiconductor, by the strategy of increasing electron-transfer efficiency and self-absorption.

Photoresponse ranges of commercially prevailing photoelectric semiconductors, typically Si and InGaAs, are far from fully covering the whole solar spectrum (∼295-2500 nm), resulting in insufficient solar energy conversion or narrow wave bands for photoelectric detection. Recent studies have shown that infinite π-aggregation of viologen radicals can provide semiconductors with a photoelectric response range covering the solar spectrum. However, controlled assembly of an infinite π-aggregate is still a great challenge in material design. Through directional self-assembly of electron-transfer photoactive polycyclic ligands, two crystalline inorganic-organic hybrid photochromic viologen-based bismuth halide semiconductors, ((Me)3pytpy)[BiCl6]·2H2O [1; (Me)3pytpy = N,N',N″-trimethyl-2,4,6-tris(4-pyridyl)pyridine] and ((Me)3pytpy)[Bi2Cl9]·H2O (2), have been synthesized. They represent the first series of pytpy-based photochromic compounds. After photoinduced coloration, the conductivities of both 1 and 2 increased. The radical products have electron absorption bands in the range of 200-1600 nm, exceeding that of Si. Both the conductivity and the photocurrent intensity of 2 are stronger than those of 1, due to better planarity, tighter π-stacking, and higher degrees of overlap of ((Me)3pytpy)3+ cations. This study not only provides a new design idea for synthesizing radical-based multispectral photoelectric semiconductors but also enriches the family of electron-transfer photochromic compounds.

Detection of oxygen though color change is highly desirable for rapid qualitative analysis like the case of pH test papers. This work demonstrates

Vapor-responsive magnetic materials are highly promising for applications as chemical switches or sensors. Compared with porous materials, nonporous species benefit in overcoming the intrinsic conflict between magnetic exchange and porosity but usually suffer from the powdering of single crystals, which hinders the understanding of the structural nature of vapor response and magnetic switch. Single-crystal-to-single-crystal (SCSC) transformation of nonporous compounds through the desorption/absorption of gaseous HCl is unprecedented. Reported here is a discrete nonporous copper(II) complex, (H3O)[K(15-crown-5)2][CuCl4], that exhibits reversible SCSC transformation and magnetic change by the chemisorption/desorption of HCl and H2O. Significant changes in the coordination number (4 ↔ 3), space group (P1 ↔ P21/c), color (green ↔ red), and magnetic behavior (antiferromagnetic ↔ paramagnetic) were found during the SCSC transformation.

Vapor-responsive magnetic materials are highly promising for applications as chemical switches or sensors. Compared with porous materials, nonporous species benefit in overcoming the intrinsic conflict between magnetic exchange and porosity but usually suffer from the powdering of single crystals, which hinders the understanding of the structural nature of vapor response and magnetic switch. Single-crystal-to-single-crystal (SCSC) transformation of nonporous compounds through the desorption/absorption of gaseous HCl is unprecedented. Reported here is a discrete nonporous copper(II) complex, (H

A sulfonate-carboxylate ligand, 4,8-disulfonyl-2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid (H(4)-DSNDA), and eight new lanthanide coordination polymers {[Pr(4)(OH)(4)(DSNDA)(2)(H(2)O)(12)](H(2)O)(10)}(n) (1), [Ln(H(2)-DSNDA)(0.5)(DSNDA)(0.5)(H(2)O)(5)](n) (Ln = La(2), Nd(3), Sm(4), Eu(5), Gd(6), and Dy(7)), and {[Er(H-DSNDA)(H(2)O)(4)](H(2)O)}(n) (8) have been synthesized. Detailed crystal structures of these compounds have been investigated. Compound 1 has a 3D framework featuring the unique cubane-shaped [Pr(4)(μ(3)-OH)(4)] clusters and is a binodal 4,8-connected network with (4(16)·6(12))(4(4)·6(2))(2) topology. Compounds 2-7 are isostructural and have 2D layered structures. Compound 8 is also a 2D layer but belongs to different structural types. The luminescence behavior of compound Eu(5) shows that the π-rich aromatic organic ligands efficiently transfer the absorbed light energy to the Eu(III) ions, thus enhancing the overall luminescent properties of compound Eu(5). The magnetic properties of all compounds except for the diamagnetic La(2) compound have been investigated. In addition, elemental analysis, IR spectra, and thermogravimetric analysis of these compounds are also described.

Four new quaternary isostructural rare-earth thiosilicates, ZnY(6)Si(2)S(14) (1), Al(0.50)Dy(3)(Si(0.50)Al(0.50))S(7) (2), Al(0.38)Dy(3)(Si(0.85)Al(0.15))S(7) (3), and Al(0.33)Sm(3)SiS(7) (4), crystallized in the chiral and polar space group P6(3), have been prepared by a facile synthetic routine. Compounds 1-3 show strong second harmonic generation effects at 2.1 um with the intensities of 1, 2, and 3 being about 2, 2, and 1 times that of KTP (KTiOPO(4)), respectively. The calculated band structure of 1 implies that the optical absorptions of BLn(6)M(2)Q(14) and ALn(3)MQ(7) family compounds are mainly ascribed to the charge transitions from Q-p to Ln-4f (4d for Y) states. Compounds 2-4 exhibit antiferromagnetic-like interactions.

A new series of novel isostructural metal chalcogenides, K2CuIn3Se6 (1), K2CuGa3Se6 (2), and K2AgIn3Se6 (3), were obtained by a reactive flux technique and structurally characterized. Compounds 1, 2, and 3 crystallize in the space group C2/c of the monoclinic system with eight formula units in a cell: a = 11.445(2) A, b = 11.495(2) A, c = 21.263(4) A, β = 97.68(3)°, V = 2772(1) A3, R1/wR2 = 0.0676/0.1652 for 1; a = 11.031(2) A, b = 11.050(4) A, c = 20.808(7) A, β = 97.71(2)°, V = 2513(1) A3, R1/wR2 = 0.0301/0.0511 for 2; and a = 11.633(1) A, b = 11.587(1) A, c = 21.355(1) A, β = 98.010(8)°, V = 2850.4(4) A3, R1/wR2 = 0.0471/0.0732 for 3. These isostructural compounds are characterized by a chain−sublayer−chain slab structure. The sublayer, composed of alternative corner-sharing mixed-metal tetrahedra, is sandwiched by parallel corner-sharing tetrahedral chains. Optical absorption spectra of compounds 1, 2, and 3 reveal the presence of a sharp optical gap of 1.68, 1.72, and 1.64 eV, respectively, suggesti...

Two new member of (V)((2n+2)/2)[Bi(2n)Cl(8n+2)] series hybrids, (BzV)2[Bi2Cl10] (1) and (BzV)5[Bi3Cl14]2·(C6H5CH2)2O (2) (where BzV(2+) = N,N'-dibenzyl-4,4'-bipyridinium and (C6H5CH2)2O = dibenzyl ether) have been obtained, and compound 2 contains an unprecedented discrete trimer [Bi3Cl14](5-) counterion. The novel in situ-synthesized symmetric viologen cation with aromatic groups on both sides of 4,4'-bipy would provide more opportunities to create π···π interactions to optimize the photochromic property of the hybrid, and different bismuthated-halide oligomers enable us to discuss the size effect in this series of compounds. Both 1 and 2 are photochromic, and their photoresponsive rate is faster than that of reported viologen-metal halide hybrids. Experimental and theoretical data illustrated that the size of the inorganic oligomer can significantly influence the photoresponsive rate of the viologen dication, and the π···π interaction behaves as not only a powerful factor to stabilize the viologen monocation radical but also the second electron-transfer pathway, from a π-conjugated substituent to a viologen cation, for the photochromic process.

The model compound [Zn(HCOO)2(4,4'-bipy)] (1; 4,4'-bipy = 4,4'-bipyridine) is selected in this work to demonstrate the effectiveness of our previously proposed design strategy for electron-transfer photochromic metal-organic complexes. The electron-transfer photochromic behavior of 1 has been discovered for the first time. Experimental and theoretical data illustrate that the photochromism of 1 can be attributed to the electron transfer from formato to 4,4'-bipy and the formation of a radical photoproduct. The electron transfer prefers to occur between formato and 4,4'-bipy, which are combined directly by the Zn(II) atoms. A high-contrast (up to 8.3 times) photoluminescence switch occurs during the photochromic process. The similarity of photochromic behaviors among 1 and its analogues as well as viologen compounds has also been found. Photochromic studies of this model compound indicate that new electron-transfer photochromic metal-organic complexes can be largely designed and synthesized by the rational assembly of nonphotochromic electron-donating and electron-accepting ligands.

A series of inorganic-organic hybrid compounds L(2)(Bi(2)Cl(10)) (L = HMV(2+) = N-proton-N'-methyl-4,4'-bipyridinium for 1, L = HBzV(2+) = N-proton-N'-benzyl-4,4'-bipyridinium for 2, and L = HPeV(2+) = N-proton-N'-phenethyl-4,4'-bipyridinium for 3) have been successfully synthesized by an in situ solvothermal reaction. Compounds 1-3, with the same metal halide as anions but different asymmetric viologen molecules as cations, are ideal model compounds for investigating the detailed effect of different photochromically active molecules on the photochromic properties of the hybrids. Compound 1 shows no photochromic behavior, but compounds 2 and 3 possess photochromism and show a faster photoresponse rate than other reported viologen metal halide hybrids. Studies on the relationship between the structure and photochromic behavior clearly reveal that π-conjugated substituents could be used to improve the photoresponsibility and enrich the developed color efficiently and that the π···π interaction among organic components may not only be a powerful factor to stabilize the viologen monocation radical but also act as the second path of electron transfer from the π-conjugated substituent to the viologen cation for the photochromic process, which significantly influences the photochromic properties.

Photochromism of N-methyl-4,4'-bipyridinium (MQ(+)) salts and their metal complexes has never been reported. A series of MQ(+) coordinated halozinc complexes [(MQ)ZnX(3)] (X = Cl (1), Br (2), I (3)) and [(MQ)ZnCl(1.53)I(1.47)](2)(MQ)ZnCl(1.68)I(1.32) (4), with better physicochemical stability than halide salts of the MQ(+) cation, have been found to exhibit different photochromic behaviors. Compounds 1-3 are isostructural, but only 1 and 2 show photochromism. Introduction of partial Cl atoms to nonphotochromic compound 3 yields compound 4, which also displays photochromism. The photochromic response of 1, 2, and 4 indicates the presence of their long-lived charge separation states, which originate from X → MQ(+) electron transfer according to ESR and XPS measurements. Studies on the influence of different coordinated halogen atoms demonstrate that the Cl atom may be a more suitable electron donor than Br and I atoms to design redox photochromic metal complexes.

Two novel manganese(II) tetrazolate coordination polymers, Mn 3(Hbta) 4(mu 2 -OH) 2(H 2O).2H 2O ( 1) and Mn(bta)(H 2O) ( 2), were obtained by the hydrothermal reaction of MnCl 2.4H 2O with N, N-bis[1(2) H-tetrazol-5-yl]amine (H 2bta) in different pH values. Compound 1 exhibits a 2-D (4,4) layer structure, which is built from binuclear Mn 2(mu 2-OH) 2 subunits and mu 3-bridging Hbta (-) linkers. Compound 2 is a helical framework, and its 3-D PtS-like net is constructed by Mn 2(bta) 2 dimers and mu 5-bridging bta (2-) linkers. Magnetic measurements reveal that compound 1 displays an antiferromagnetic ordering, while compound 2 exhibits the coexistence of a spin-canted antiferromagnetic coupling and a field-induced spin-flop transition.

A metal-organic framework with the highest connectivity of 2-D topology was first assembled from an octacobalt(II) cluster as a 10-connected node and a new bifunctional ligand 1-(3,5-dicarboxy-phenyl)-4-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazole as a 3-connected node as well as "double bridge" linkers.

Two structural series, including seven isomorphous heterodinuclear complexes, [Ln(DMSO)4(H2O)3(mu-CN)M(CN)5].H2O ([La-Fe] (1), [Pr-Fe] (2), [Pr-Co] (3), [Nd-Fe] (4), [Nd-Co] (5), [Sm-Fe] (6) and [Sm-Co] (7)), and seven isostructural 2-D stair-like cyano-bridged bimetallic assemblies, [Ln(DMSO)2(H2O)(mu-CN)4M(CN)2]n ([La-Fe]n (8), [Pr-Fe]n (9), [Pr-Co]n (10), [Nd-Fe]n (11), [Nd-Co]n (12), [Sm-Fe]n (13) and [Sm-Co]n (14)) (DMSO = dimethylsulfoxide), have been rationally prepared by a facile approach, a ball-milling method, and characterized by X-ray diffraction and magnetic measurements. The isomorphous structures, in conjunction with the diamagnetism of the Co(3+) and La(3+) ions, allow an approximation to the nature of coupling between the iron(III) and lanthanide(III) ions in the Ln(3+)-Fe(3+) complexes. The Ln(3+)-Fe(3+) interaction is ferromagnetic for the dinuclear [Pr-Fe] (2), [Nd-Fe] (4), and [Sm-Fe] (6) systems and for the 2-D [Pr-Fe]n (9), [Nd-Fe]n (11), and [Sm-Fe]n (13) assemblies.

Three novel silver complexes, namely, [Ag5(CN)5(bipy)2]n (1) with a 1-D to 3-D architecture constructed through ligand-unsupported argentophilic interactions, [Ag5(SCN)4(CN)(bipy)2]n (2) with a 2-D interesting topology formed by cyanide groups linking [Ag5(SCN)4(bipy)2]n(n+) cationic columns, and [(Me4N)Ag3(CN)4]n (3) with 3-fold-interpenetrated 3-D 3-connected (10, 3)-g nets, have been solvothermally synthesized, and all exhibit efficient luminescence.

A new series of novel isostructural metal chalcogenides, K(2)CuIn(3)Se(6) (1), K(2)CuGa(3)Se(6) (2), and K(2)AgIn(3)Se(6) (3), were obtained by a reactive flux technique and structurally characterized. Compounds 1, 2, and 3 crystallize in the space group C2/c of the monoclinic system with eight formula units in a cell: a = 11.445(2) A, b = 11.495(2) A, c = 21.263(4) A, beta = 97.68(3) degrees, V = 2772(1) A(3), R1/wR2 = 0.0676/0.1652 for 1; a = 11.031(2) A, b = 11.050(4) A, c = 20.808(7) A, beta = 97.71(2) degrees, V = 2513(1) A(3), R1/wR2 = 0.0301/0.0511 for 2; and a = 11.633(1) A, b = 11.587(1) A, c = 21.355(1) A, beta = 98.010(8) degrees, V = 2850.4(4) A(3), R1/wR2 = 0.0471/0.0732 for 3. These isostructural compounds are characterized by a chain-sublayer-chain slab structure. The sublayer, composed of alternative corner-sharing mixed-metal tetrahedra, is sandwiched by parallel corner-sharing tetrahedral chains. Optical absorption spectra of compounds 1, 2, and 3 reveal the presence of a sharp optical gap of 1.68, 1.72, and 1.64 eV, respectively, suggesting that these materials are semiconductors and suitable for efficient absorption of solar radiation in solar cell applications. IR spectra show no obvious absorption in the range 800-4000 cm(-)(1).