An emitting Hofmann-type compound: evidence for interlayer aurophilic interactions

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Inorganic Chemistry
• Solid-State Chemistry

Background:

• Coordination polymers offer tunable properties based on metal centers and ligands.
• Hofmann-type bimetallic compounds are of interest for their structural diversity and potential applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize a novel Hofmann-type bimetallic coordination polymer.
• To investigate the luminescent properties of the synthesized compound.
• To elucidate the origin of the multi-peak emission spectrum.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of [Cd(II)(3-methylpyridine)2][Au(CN)2]2 via a solvothermal method.
• Photoluminescence spectroscopy to analyze emission properties under UV irradiation.
• Analysis of emission spectra to understand the relationship between structure and luminescence.

Main Results:

• The synthesized compound, [Cd(II)(3-methylpyridine)2][Au(CN)2]2, displays luminescence.
• Emission peaks were observed at 400 nm, 440 nm, 490 nm, and a shoulder at 550 nm upon excitation at 360 nm.
• The complex multi-peak emission is attributed to vibrational structures within the interactions of gold atoms across adjacent layers.

Conclusions:

• The novel Hofmann-type bimetallic coordination polymer exhibits interesting luminescent behavior.
• The observed luminescence is strongly dependent on the specific arrangement and interactions of metal centers within the crystal lattice.
• Understanding these structure-property relationships is crucial for designing advanced luminescent materials.