Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 14, 2026

10:57
Synthesis and Performance Characterizations of Transition Metal Single Atom Catalyst for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction
Published on: April 10, 2018
Probing the electronic communication of linear heptanickel and nonanickel string complexes by utilizing two
Shao-An Hua1, Isiah Po-Chun Liu, Hasan Hasanov
1Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Dalton Transactions (Cambridge, England : 2003)
|April 8, 2010
Summary
Synthesized nickel string complexes show weaker electronic communication as they get longer. This electronic communication decreases with more inner diamagnetic nickel ions in these metal frameworks.
Area of Science:
- Coordination Chemistry
- Inorganic Chemistry
- Materials Science
Background:
- Nickel string complexes are polynuclear metal compounds with potential applications in molecular electronics.
- Understanding electronic communication in these extended metal frameworks is crucial for designing new materials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize two new extended nickel string complexes, [Ni(7)(bnapy)(4)Cl(2)](Cl)(2) (2) and [Ni(9)(bnapya)(4)Cl(2)](PF(6))(2) (3).
- To investigate the electronic communication between redox-active nickel units within these complexes.
- To correlate the electronic communication with the structural elongation and the number of inner diamagnetic nickel ions.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis and characterization of nickel string complexes.
- Magnetic measurements to determine magnetic coupling constants (J).
- Electrochemical analysis (cyclic voltammetry) to measure the difference between consecutive one-electron oxidation peaks (DeltaE(1/2)).
Main Results:
- Complexes 2 and 3, containing two redox-active [Ni(2)(napy)(4)](3+) units, were successfully synthesized.
- Antiferromagnetic coupling between the nickel units weakens with increasing framework length (J = -13.21 cm(-1) for 2 and J = -1.48 cm(-1) for 3).
- The DeltaE(1/2) values for complexes 2 (110 mV) and 3 (84 mV) are significantly smaller than that of the pentanickel analogue (300 mV), indicating reduced electronic communication.
Conclusions:
- Electronic communication in nickel string complexes is inversely related to the length of the metal framework.
- Increasing the number of inner diamagnetic nickel ions diminishes the electronic communication between the redox-active units.
- These findings provide insights into the structure-property relationships of extended nickel-based molecular materials.
Related Concept Videos
Valence Bond Theory
Coordination compounds and complexes exhibit different colors, geometries, and magnetic behavior, depending on the metal atom/ion and ligands from which they are composed. In an attempt to explain the bonding and structure of coordination complexes, Linus Pauling proposed the valence bond theory, or VBT, using the concepts of hybridization and the overlapping of the atomic orbitals. According to VBT, the central metal atom or ion (Lewis acid) hybridizes to provide empty orbitals of suitable...
Structural Isomerism
Isomerism in Complexes
Isomers are different chemical species that have the same chemical formula. Structural isomerism of coordination compounds can be divided into two subcategories, the linkage isomers and coordination-sphere isomers.
Linkage isomers occur when the coordination compound contains a ligand that can bind to the transition metal center through two different atoms. For example, the CN− ligand can bind through the carbon atom or through the nitrogen atom. Similarly, SCN− can be...
Isomers are different chemical species that have the same chemical formula. Structural isomerism of coordination compounds can be divided into two subcategories, the linkage isomers and coordination-sphere isomers.
Linkage isomers occur when the coordination compound contains a ligand that can bind to the transition metal center through two different atoms. For example, the CN− ligand can bind through the carbon atom or through the nitrogen atom. Similarly, SCN− can be...
Metal-Ligand Bonds
The hemoglobin in the blood, the chlorophyll in green plants, vitamin B-12, and the catalyst used in the manufacture of polyethylene all contain coordination compounds. Ions of the metals, especially the transition metals, are likely to form complexes.
In these complexes, transition metals form coordinate covalent bonds, a kind of Lewis acid-base interaction in which both of the electrons in the bond are contributed by a donor (Lewis base) to an electron acceptor (Lewis acid). The Lewis acid in...
In these complexes, transition metals form coordinate covalent bonds, a kind of Lewis acid-base interaction in which both of the electrons in the bond are contributed by a donor (Lewis base) to an electron acceptor (Lewis acid). The Lewis acid in...
Colors and Magnetism
Color in Coordination Complexes
When atoms or molecules absorb light at the proper frequency, their electrons are excited to higher-energy orbitals. For many main group atoms and molecules, the absorbed photons are in the ultraviolet range of the electromagnetic spectrum, which cannot be detected by the human eye. For coordination compounds, the energy difference between the d orbitals often allows photons in the visible range to be absorbed and emitted, which is seen as colors by the human eye.
When atoms or molecules absorb light at the proper frequency, their electrons are excited to higher-energy orbitals. For many main group atoms and molecules, the absorbed photons are in the ultraviolet range of the electromagnetic spectrum, which cannot be detected by the human eye. For coordination compounds, the energy difference between the d orbitals often allows photons in the visible range to be absorbed and emitted, which is seen as colors by the human eye.
Electron Carriers
Electron carriers can be thought of as electron shuttles. These compounds can easily accept electrons (i.e., be reduced) or lose them (i.e., be oxidized). They play an essential role in energy production because cellular respiration is contingent on the flow of electrons.
Over the many stages of cellular respiration, glucose breaks down into carbon dioxide and water. Electron carriers pick up electrons lost by glucose in these reactions, temporarily storing and releasing them into the electron...
Over the many stages of cellular respiration, glucose breaks down into carbon dioxide and water. Electron carriers pick up electrons lost by glucose in these reactions, temporarily storing and releasing them into the electron...
Electron Configurations
Electron configurations and orbital diagrams can be determined by applying the Aufbau principle (each added electron occupies the subshell of lowest energy available), Pauli exclusion principle (no two electrons can have the same set of four quantum numbers), and Hund’s rule of maximum multiplicity (whenever possible, electrons retain unpaired spins in degenerate orbitals).
The relative energies of the subshells determine the order in which atomic orbitals are filled (1s, 2s, 2p, 3s, 3p, 4s,...
The relative energies of the subshells determine the order in which atomic orbitals are filled (1s, 2s, 2p, 3s, 3p, 4s,...

![Protein Film Infrared Electrochemistry Demonstrated for Study of H2 Oxidation by a [NiFe] Hydrogenase](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcloudfront.jove.com%2FCDNSource%2Fteasers%2F55858.jpg&w=3840&q=50)