Hydrothermal synthesis of [C6H16N2][In2Se3(Se2)]: A new one-dimensional indium selenide

A new organically templated indium selenide, [C6H16N2][In2Se3(Se2)], has been prepared hydrothermally from the reaction of indium, selenium and trans-1,4-diaminocyclohexane in water at 170 °C. This material was characterised by single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, FT-IR and elemental analysis. The compound crystallises in the monoclinic space group C2/c (a=12.0221(16) Å, b=11.2498(15) Å, c=12.8470(17) Å, β=110.514(6)°). The crystal structure of [C6H16N2][In2Se3(Se2)] contains anionic chains of stoichiometry [In2Se3(Se2)]2−, which are aligned parallel to the [1 0 1] direction, and separated by diprotonated trans-1,4-diaminocyclohexane cations. The [In2Se3(Se2)]2− chains, which consist of alternating four-membered [In2Se2] and five-membered [In2Se3] rings, contain perselenide (Se2)2− units. UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy indicates that [C6H16N2][In2Se3(Se2)] has a band gap of 2.23(1) eV.

Graphical abstract[C6H16N2][In2Se3(Se2)], prepared under hydrothermal conditions, contains one-dimensional chains of stoichiometry [In2Se3(Se2)]2−, in which four-membered [In2Se2] and five-membered [In2Se3] rings alternate.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► New one-dimensional indium selenide prepared under hydrothermal conditions. ► The [In2Se3(Se2)]2− chains are a new structural motif for Group 13 chalcogenides. ► Unusual presence of (Se2)2− moieties. ► Optical band gap of 2.23(1) eV.