Ion pair charge-transfer thiogermanate salts [MV]2Ge4S10·xSol: solvent induced crystal transformation and photocurrent responsive properties

Abstract

As most of the chalcogenidometalate anions are well-known electron-rich systems, design and preparation of ion pair compounds, by integrating an organic acceptor (A) with an inorganic chalcogenidometalate donor (D), are an attractive strategy to obtain new functional materials. We report herein the single-crystal structures and properties of three new ion pair charge-transfer (IPCT) compounds by incorporating thiogermanates with methylviologen (MV²⁺, N,N′-dimethyl-4,4′-bipyridinium dication), [MV]₂Ge₄S₁₀·xSol (Sol = solvent). Sharp and fast solvent-induced color changes and switchable fluorescence emission are observed for the compounds. The weak interactions that relate to the solvent and ions in the structures are likely the key points to modulate the cation–anion charge-transfer. A photocurrent response is observed for the photoelectric system of the IPCT compound upon repetitive switching of light on and off.