Ionothermal Synthesis of Cu(Sb2Se3)[AlCl4] and Cu5(Bi2Se3)6[AlCl4]5: Monolayers of Sb2Se3 and Bi2Se3 Stabilized by Cu[AlCl4]

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Abstract

Two new layered chalcogenide–chloridoaluminate compounds, Cu(Sb2Se3)[AlCl4] and Cu5(Bi2Se3)6[AlCl4]5, were obtained by ionothermal synthesis from Lewis-acidic [BMIm]Cl/AlCl3 melts at 200°C. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction shows that Cu(Sb2Se3)[AlCl4] contains corrugated (Formula presented.) Cu(Sb2Se3)]+ layers in which an intrinsically two-dimensional Sb2Se3 net built from 12-membered rings is cross-linked by copper(I) atoms; [AlCl4] anions separate the cationic sheets and provide a weak Cu.Cl coordination. Cu5(Bi2Se3)6[AlCl4]5 features terraced (Formula presented.) Cu3(Bi2Se3)6]3+ layers composed of (Formula presented.) Bi2Se3] ribbons that are connected by copper(I) atoms. The interlayer region comprises [AlCl4] anions and [CuSeCl3] tetrahedra. Density functional theory-based bonding analyses indicate highly polar Al.Cl and Cu.Cl interactions, more covalent Cu.Se bonding, and predominantly covalent Sb.Se and Bi.Se bonds. Electronic-structure calculations yield indirect band gaps of about 1.35 eV for Cu(Sb2Se3)[AlCl4] and 0.40 eV for Cu5(Bi2Se3)6[AlCl4]5. Optically allowed direct transitions at slightly higher energies account for the broad absorption observed in the UV/Vis spectra. Treatment with dilute HCl partially extracts the chloridoaluminate components and promotes splitting along the layers, producing flake-like products, albeit with substantial loss of long-range order.

Details

Original languageEnglish
JournalZeitschrift fur Anorganische und Allgemeine Chemie
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 14 Jun 2026
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

ORCID /0000-0002-2391-6025/work/219266435

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Keywords

  • broadband absorber materials, chalcogenides, crystal structures, ionothermal synthesis, layered compounds