Pillared-layer cluster organic frameworks constructed from nanoscale Ln10 and Cu16 clusters

Area of Science:

• Coordination Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Crystallography

Background:

• Pillared-layer cluster organic frameworks are typically built from heterometallic layers and organic pillars.
• The construction of complex frameworks often relies on well-defined inorganic metal connectors and organic linkers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize novel 3D cluster organic frameworks using lanthanide and copper(I) halide sources.
• To investigate the structural characteristics and topological properties of the newly formed frameworks.

Main Methods:

• Hydrothermal synthesis employing lanthanide oxide and copper(I) halide.
• Characterization using elemental analysis, Infrared spectroscopy (IR), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Powder X-ray Diffraction (PXRD), and UV-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis).

Main Results:

• Two novel pillared-layer cluster organic frameworks, [Ln5(μ3-OH)4(μ-H2O)Cu8I8L11]·H2O (Ln = Dy, Eu), were successfully synthesized.
• These frameworks feature unique inorganic connectors: decanuclear hydroxo lanthanide ([Ln10(μ3-OH)8](22+)) clusters and copper(I) halide ([Cu16I16]) clusters.
• Topological analysis reveals a binodal (8,14)-connected net, characteristic of high-dimensional frameworks with high nuclearity nodes.

Conclusions:

• The study presents the first 3D frameworks constructed from decanuclear hydroxo lanthanide clusters.
• These findings demonstrate a novel approach to designing complex, high-dimensional frameworks by assembling distinct inorganic cluster motifs and organic linkers.
• The characterized frameworks offer new platforms for exploring properties related to their unique structural architectures.