Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 22, 2025

Preparation of Polyoxometalate-based Photo-responsive Membranes for the Photo-activation of Manganese Oxide Catalysts
Published on: August 7, 2018
Strong Photocurrent Response of Selenoarsenates With Different Transition Metal Complexes as Structure-Directing
Xinyu Tian1, Gele Teri1, Muge Shele1
1Inner Mongolia University Key Laboratory of Advanced Materials Chemistry and Devices (AMC&DLab), College of Chemistry & Environmental Science, Inner Mongolia Normal University, Hohhot, China.
Abstract:
Four selenoarsenates with different transition-metal complexes [Co(tren)2H]AsSe4 [tren = tris(2-aminoethyl)amine] (1); [Ni2(dien)4](As2Se5) (dien = diethylenetriamine) (2); [Zn(tren)]2(As2Se5) (3) and [Mn(tren)]2(As2Se5) (4) were solvothermally synthesized in a mixed solvent of organic amine and alcohol solution. The compounds 1-4 have pyramidal/tetrahedral structures (AsSe3/AsSe4), and contain transition metal (Co2+, Ni2+, Zn2+ and Mn2+) complex that form distinct zero-dimensional (0-D) clusters. Arsenic atoms form a tetrahedron in compounds 1 and 2; 1 consists of discrete tetrahedral (AsSe4) and transition metal complex [Co(tren)2]2+; 2 is composed of an anion [As2Se5]4- cluster and transition metal complex [Ni(dien)2]2+. In compounds 3 and 4, arsenic atom forms a pyramidal AsSe3 and the two pyramidal AsSe3 share a corner connection to form a dimer [As2Se5]4-; 3 is characterized as a cluster consisting of two unsaturated [Zn(tren)]2+ caiton linked by a dimer (As2Se5)4- linkage; in 4, unsaturated [Mn(tren)]2+ caiton is linked to two trigonal-bipyramidal [Mn(tren)]Se via dimer (As2Se5)4- to form [Mn(tren)]4[As4Se10] cluster. To our knowledge, [Zn(tren)]2(As2Se5) (3) is the first zinc selenoarsenate containing the (As2Se5)4- anion type. Furthermore, the Mn2+ ions adopt a trigonal-biyramidal (five-coordinate) and octahedral (six-coordinate) environment. Adding K2CO3/Cs2CO3 to the synthesis system is necessary and may act as a mineralizer. Several properties of compounds 1-4 have been characterized in our studies, in particular their strong photocurrent response characteristics under visible light irradiation.
Related Concept Videos
Colors and Magnetism
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...
Photochemical Electrocyclic Reactions: Stereochemistry
Selection Rules: Photochemical Activation
Metal-Ligand Bonds
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...
Valence Bond Theory
Crystal Field Theory - Octahedral Complexes
To explain the observed behavior of transition metal complexes (such as colors), a model involving electrostatic interactions between the electrons from the ligands and the electrons in the unhybridized d orbitals of the central metal atom has been developed. This electrostatic model is crystal field theory (CFT). It helps to understand, interpret, and predict the colors, magnetic behavior, and some structures of coordination compounds of transition metals.
CFT focuses on...
Stereoisomerism
Isomers are different chemical species that have the same chemical formula.
Transition metal complexes often exist as geometric isomers, in which the same atoms are connected through the same types of bonds but with differences in their orientation in space. Coordination complexes with two different ligands in the cis and trans positions from a ligand of interest form isomers. For example, the octahedral [Co(NH3)4Cl2]+ ion has two isomers (Figure 1) In the cis...
![Cercosporin-Photocatalyzed [4+1]- and [4+2]-Annulations of Azoalkenes Under Mild Conditions](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcloudfront.jove.com%2FCDNSource%2Fteasers%2F60786.jpg&w=3840&q=50)
