Two Silver Coordination Network Compounds with Colorful Photoluminescence

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Coordination Chemistry
• Photophysics

Background:

• Flexible organic ligands can influence the properties of coordination network compounds (CNCs).
• Excitation-wavelength-dependent photoluminescence (EWDP) is an intriguing phenomenon in materials with potential applications in sensing and optoelectronics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize novel CNCs using the flexible organic ligand 1,4-bis(2-methyl-imidazol-1-yl)butane (Bmib) and silver halides (AgX).
• To investigate the EWDP properties of the synthesized CNCs.
• To elucidate the emission mechanisms of these CNCs using theoretical calculations.

Main Methods:

• Hydrothermal synthesis of coordination network compounds (CNCs).
• Characterization of photoluminescence properties, specifically excitation-wavelength-dependent photoluminescence (EWDP).
• Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations to investigate emission mechanisms.

Main Results:

• Two new isomorphic CNCs, [Ag2(Bmib)Br2]∞ (IAM16-1) and [Ag2(Bmib)I2]∞ (IAM16-2), were successfully synthesized.
• These are the first reported examples of CNCs exhibiting excitation-wavelength-dependent photoluminescence (EWDP).
• EWDP properties are potentially linked to the flexibility of the Bmib ligand's alkyl chain and methyl group orientations.

Conclusions:

• Novel isomorphic CNCs with EWDP properties were synthesized using Bmib and AgX.
• The study presents the first examples of CNCs demonstrating EWDP.
• DFT calculations were employed to understand the complex emission mechanisms in these materials.