Structure, polymorphism and luminescence of cyanate iodides MI(OCN) (M = Ba, Eu, and Sr)

Abstract

A series of new compounds MI(OCN) were prepared from the mixtures of MI₂ and K(OCN) (M = Sr, Eu or Ba) by solid-state reactions that were controlled by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and differential thermal analysis (DTA) techniques. The presence of two phases is highlighted for BaI(OCN) which crystallizes in the Pnma (α-BaI(OCN)) and Cmcm (β-BaI(OCN)) space groups. The SrI(OCN), EuI(OCN) and β-BaI(OCN) compounds crystallize in the same orthorhombic Cmcm space group and the structure consists of a layered arrangement of [M₂I₂]²⁺ blocks separated by single layers of cyanate ions that are found to be related to the Sillén-type structure. The polymorphism of BaI(OCN) was also observed by analyzing the infrared (IR) spectra. This analysis showed for β-BaI(OCN) splitting bands, which were ascribed to the presence of more than one resonant cyanate form that can be induced by the dynamical disorder of OCN units. In contrast, the α-BaI(OCN) vibration modes suppose the existence of one cyanate form that adopts a defined orientation. The SrI(OCN) and BaI(OCN) compounds were doped with Eu²⁺. The luminescence spectra recorded under excitation at 340 and 350 nm revealed a blue emission of Eu²⁺ at 431 nm for the β-BaI(OCN) and SrI(OCN) phases and at 427 nm for the α-BaI(OCN) phase that was ascribed to the 4f⁶5d¹ → ⁸S_7/2 (4f⁷) transition.