Crystal structure and phase transitions in perovskite-like C(NH2)3SnCl3

X-ray single-crystal diffraction, high-temperature powder diffraction and differential thermal analysis at ambient and high pressure have been employed to study the crystal structure and phase transitions of guanidinium trichlorostannate, C(NH2)3SnCl3. At 295 K the crystal structure is orthorhombic, space group Pbca, Z=8, a=7.7506(2) Å, b=12.0958(4) Å and c=17.8049(6) Å, solved from single-crystal data. It is perovskite-like with distorted corner-linked SnCl6 octahedra and with ordered guanidinium cations in the distorted cuboctahedral voids. At 400 K the structure shows a first-order order–disorder phase transition. The space group is changed to Pnma with Z=4, a=12.1552(2) Å, b=8.8590(2) Å and c=8.0175(1) Å, solved from powder diffraction data and showing disordering of the guanidinium cations. At 419 K, the structure shows yet another first-order order–disorder transformation with disordering of the SnCl3− part. The space group symmetry is maintained as Pnma, with a=12.1786(2) Å, b=8.8642(2) Å and c=8.0821(2) Å. The thermodynamic parameters of these transitions and the p–T phase diagram have been determined and described.

Graphical abstractThe perovskite-like crystals of C(NH2)3SnCl3 undergo two successive first-order phase transitions at 400 and 419 K, both accompanied by an essential order–disorder contribution. The p–T phase diagram exhibits a singular point at 219 MPa and 443 K.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide