A surface-dynamic approach toward supercrystal engineering of titanium–oxo clusters

Abstract

The controlled synthesis and structure determination of two titanium–oxo (Ti–O) clusters (Ti₁₀Cu₂)_sp (sp: hard-sphere-like packing) and (Ti₁₀Cu₂)_cs (cs: chain stacking) are presented. In contrast to the previously reported assemblies of Ti–O clusters by organic or inorganic linkers, (Ti₁₀Cu₂)_sp and (Ti₁₀Cu₂)_cs are achieved via regulating the surface dynamics of Ti–O clusters and further stabilized by CH⋯π interactions. The surface dynamics was regulated via a change of dynamically detached Sal-Cu/OMe-Cu motifs (Sal = salicylic acid). More importantly, benefiting from the difference in structures, (Ti₁₀Cu₂)_cs exhibits excellent conductive properties and different photocatalytic activities.