Using of sonochemically prepared components for vapor phase growing of SbI3.3S8.

The using of sonochemically prepared components for growth of SbI(3).3S(8) single crystals from the vapor phase is presented for the first time. The good optical quality of the obtained crystals is important because this material is valuable for optoelectronics due to its non-linear optical properties. The products were characterized by using techniques such as X-ray crystallography, powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, selected area electron diffraction, optical diffuse reflection spectroscopy and optical transmittance spectroscopy. The direct and indirect forbidden energy gaps of SbI(3).3S(8) illuminated with plane polarized light with electric field parallel and perpendicular to the c-axis of the crystal have been determined. The second harmonic generation of light in the grown crystals was observed.

Does the solid-liquid crystal phase transition provoke the spin-state change in spin-crossover metallomesogens?

Three types of interplay/synergy between spin-crossover (SCO) and liquid crystalline (LC) phase transitions can be predicted: (i) systems with coupled phase transitions, where the structural changes associated to the Cr<-->LC phase transition drives the spin-state transition, (ii) systems where both transitions coexist in the same temperature region but are not coupled, and (iii) systems with uncoupled phase transitions. Here we present a new family of Fe(II) metallomesogens based on the ligand tris[3-aza-4-((5-C(n))(6-R)(2-pyridyl))but-3-enyl]amine, with C(n) = hexyloxy, dodecyloxy, hexadecyloxy, octadecyloxy, eicosyloxy, R = hydrogen or methyl (C(n)-trenH or C(n)-trenMe), which affords examples of systems of types i, ii, and iii. Self-assembly of the ligands C(n)-trenH and C(n)-trenMe with Fe(A)2 x xH2O salts have afforded a family of complexes with general formula [Fe(C(n)-trenR)](A)2 x sH2O (s > or = 0), with A = ClO4(-), F-, Cl-, Br- and I-. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction measurements have been performed on two derivatives of this family, named as [Fe(C6-trenH)](ClO4)2 (C(6)-1) and [Fe(C6-trenMe)](ClO4)2 (C(6)-2), at 150 K for C(6)-1 and at 90 and 298 K for C(6)-2. At 150 K, C(6)-1 displays the triclinic space group P, whereas at 90 and at 298 K C(6)-2 adopts the monoclinic P2(1)/c space group. In both compounds the iron atoms adopt a pseudo-octahedral symmetry and are surrounded by six nitrogen atoms belonging to imino groups and pyridines of the ligands C(n)-trenH and C(n)-trenMe. The average Fe(II)-N bonds (1.963(2) A) at 150 K denote that C(6)-1 is in the low-spin (LS) state. For C(6)-2 the average Fe(II)-N bonds (2.007(1) A) at 90 K are characteristic of the LS state, while at 298 K they are typical for the high-spin (HS) state (2.234(3) A). Compound C(6)-1 and [Fe(C18-trenH)](ClO4)2 (C(18)-1) adopts the LS state in the temperature region between 10 and 400 K, while compound C(6)-2 and [Fe(Cn-trenMe)](ClO4)2 (n = 12 (C(12)-2), 18 (C(18)-2)) exhibit spin crossover behavior at T(1/2) centered around 140 K. The thermal spin transition is accompanied by a pronounced change of color from dark red (LS) to orange (HS). The light-induced excited spin state trapping (LIESST) effect has been investigated in compounds C(6)-2, C(12)-2 and C(18)-2. The T(1/2)LIESST is 56 K (C(6)-2), 48 K (C(16)-2), and 56 K (C(18)-2). On the basis of differential scanning calorimetry, optical polarizing microscopy, and X-ray diffraction findings for C(18)-1, C(12)-2, and C(18)-2 at high temperature a smectic mesophase SX has been identified with layered structures similar to C(6)-1 and C(6)-2. The compounds [Fe(C(n)-trenH)](Cl)2 x sH2O (n = 16 (C(16)-3, s = 3.5, C(16)-4, s = 0.5, C(16)-5, s = 0), 18 (C(18)-3, s = 3.5, C(18)-4, s = 0.5, C(18)-5, s = 0), 20 (C(20)-3, s = 3.5, C(20)-4, s = 0.5, C(20)-5, s = 0)) and [Fe(C18-tren)](F)2 x sH2O (C(18)-6, s = 3.5, C(18)-7, s = 0) show a very particular spin-state change, while [Fe(C18-tren)](Br)2 x 3H2O (C(18)-8) together with [Fe(C18-tren)](I)2 (C(18)-9) are in the LS state (10-400 K) and present mesomorphic behavior like that observed for the complexes C(18)-1, C(12)-2, and C(18)-2. In compounds C(n)-3 50% of the Fe(II) ions undergo spin-state change at T(1/2) = 375 K induced by releasing water, and in partially dehydrated compounds (s = 0.5) the Cr-->SA phase transition occurs at 287 K (C(16)-4), 301 K (C(18)-4) and 330 K (C(20)-4). For the fully dehydrated materials C(n)-5 50% of the Fe(II) ions are in the HS state and show paramagnetic behavior between 10 and 400 K. In the partially dehydrated C(n)-4 the spin transition is induced by the change of the aggregate state of matter (solid<-->liquid crystal). For compound C(18)-6 the full dehydration to C(18)-7 provokes the spin-state change of nearly 50% of the Fe(II) ions. The compounds C(n)-3 and C(18)-6 are dark purple in the LS state and become light purple-brown when 50% of the Fe(II) atoms are in the HS state.