Solely 3‑Coordinated Organic–Inorganic Hybrid Copper(I) Halide: Hexagonal Channel Structure, Turn-On Response to Mechanical Force, Moisture, and Amine

• Published in: Inorganic chemistry 2022-05, Vol.61 (21), p.8320-8327
• Main Authors: Qiu, Yixin, Ma, Zhimin, Li, Zewei, Sun, Huaiyang, Dai, Guangkuo, Fu, Xiaohua, Jiang, Hong, Ma, Zhiyong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0020-1669; 1520-510X
• DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.2c00781

Herein, we report a novel organic–inorganic hybrid CuI halide PyCs3Cu2Br6 (Py: pyridinium), where pyridinium and cesium ions coexist. We successfully develop a novel strategy for fabricating turn-on responsive materials. PyCs3Cu2Br6 has a higher single-crystal symmetry (no. 191) than its all-inorganic counterpart Cs3Cu2Br5 (no. 62), and the incorporation of organic pyridinium varied the coordination environment of CuI. PyCs3Cu2Br6 formed a triangle planar structure with solely 3-coordinated CuI ions, which quenched its luminescence. However, PyCs3Cu2Br6 presented a hexagonal channel structure, which enabled it with turn-on response upon mechanical force, heat, moisture, and amine vapor. Such structure offered channels for active molecules to diffuse and interact with pyridiniums, leading to the stimuli-triggered phase change to highly emissive Cs3Cu2Br5. To our best knowledge, for the first time, we discover a novel 3-coordinated organic–inorganic hybrid CuI halide with turn-on response to external stimuli. We believe that our study will contribute to expanding the landscape of smart stimulus-responsive materials and lay the foundation for their wide applications.