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Two novel ternary air-stable transition-metal carbodiimides, MnHf(NCN)3and FeHf(NCN)3, were synthesized via solid-state metathesis using either ZnNCN or Na2NCN as the carbodiimide source and the corresponding binary metal chlorides. These two phases are the first examples of transition-metal carbodiimides with an AB(NCN)3composition, akin to ubiquitous ABO3perovskite oxides. The crystal structure of MnHf(NCN)3was determined and refined from powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) data in the non-centrosymmetric space group P6322 allowing for chirality, the assignment of which is supported by second-harmonic generation (SHG) measurements. FeHf(NCN)3was found to crystallize isotypically, and the presence of iron(II) in a high spin state was confirmed by 57Fe Mößbauer spectroscopy. The structures are revealed to be NiAs-derived and can be described as a hexagonal stack of NCN2–anions with metal cations occupying 2/3 of the octahedral voids. Both IR spectroscopic measurements and DFT calculations agree that the NCN2–unit is a bent carbodiimide with C2vsymmetry, necessary to account for the size difference present in such a vacancy-ordered structure. Magnetic studies reveal predominantly strong antiferromagnetic interactions but no long-range order between the paramagnetic Mn2+centers, likely due to the dilution of Mn2+over the octahedral sites or perhaps even due to some degree of magnetic frustration. The optical and electrochemical properties of MnHf(NCN)3were then studied, revealing a wide band gap of 3.04 eV and p-type behavior.

The unusually high oxidation state + IV of cobalt is stabilized by ligands based on [B11H11]4–in dark blue colored Cs4[Co(B11H10.11(OH)0.75)2]·4.56H2O, K4[Co(B11H9.19(OH)1.81)2]·2H2O, Cs8[Co{(B11H6)2(O)(O2BOH)4}]2·4H2O and K4[Co{(B11H6)2(O2BOH)5}]·7H2O. These compounds were obtained by reacting Co2+salts with [B11H14]−under alkaline conditions. In the absence of oxygen, Co(+III) compounds such as the light brownish K4[Co(B11H11)(CN)3]·KCl·2.5H2O are formed. The title compounds were characterized by X-ray crystallography. Cs8[Co{(B11H6)2(O)(O2BOH)4}]2·4H2O and K4[Co(B11H11)(CN)3]·KCl·2.5H2O were also characterized using IR-, UV–vis and cyclovoltammetry. Magnetic measurements of Cs4[Co(B11H10.11(OH)0.75)2]·4.56H2O and ESR measurements of Cs8[Co{(B11H6)2(O)(O2BOH)4}]2·4H2O show that in these Co(+IV) low-spin d5complexes the unpaired electron is on the dx2–y2, dxy(E2g) orbitals.

We investigated CuWO4as a promising photoanode and its surface functionalization with Ag2NCN. The composite photoanode displays a synergetic effect between its constituents during photoelectrochemical (PEC) water oxidation. After placing Ag2NCN particles on the CuWO4thin film, the photocurrent density increases from 15 to 45 μA cm–2at 1.23 V vs reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) in phosphate buffer electrolyte at pH 7 under simulated AM1.5 G illumination. The different positions of the band edges of CuWO4and Ag2NCN favor charge carrier separation at their interface. Upon illumination, photogenerated electrons of both semiconductors are transferred to the conduction band and can migrate to the counterelectrode. The higher position of the conduction band edge of Ag2NCN allows its electrons to be injected into the conduction band of CuWO4. Simultaneously, holes from the cyanamide are blocked, because the valence band edge position of CuWO4is positioned lower than for Ag2NCN. This results in more efficient charge separation and hole collection efficiencies. Herein, we emphasize the potential of carbodiimides and cyanamides in the design of photoelectrodes beyond oxide and nitride semiconductors.