Work

Conductive Organometallic Polymers from Soluble Superatom Ions

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide Superatomic crystals comprising ligand-capped, metal chalcogenide clusters and fullerenes are modular materials that exhibit enhanced electronic, magnetic, and thermal conductivity properties. We find that neutral, M 4 S 4 (M = Fe, Co) clusters stabilized with N -heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) can transfer charge to C 60 fullerene to form binary superatomic crystals. Notably, these compounds are soluble in various organic solvents, allowing their properties to be investigated in solution, unlike traditional fullerene-based superatomic crystals. The ion pairs can be further assembled into organometallic polymers using Janus-bis(NHCs) to cross-link the oxidized M 4 S 4 units. We show that the superatomic polymers are more conductive than both the precursor superatomic crystals and the polymers containing only neutral M 4 S 4 clusters. Similar conductivity values can be obtained when neutral M 4 S 4 –NHC polymers are doped with solutions of C 60 fullerene. These findings demonstrate that next generation superatomic materials can be prepared via the combination of charge transfer and polymerization with appropriate cross-linking agents.

Source: ACS Materials Letters

DOI: 10.1021/acsmaterialslett.5c00925

Authors: Jonathan H. Gillen, My K. Vuong, Daniel W. Paley, Christopher M. Bejger

Institutions: University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Language: English

Topic: Inorganic Chemistry and Materials

Subfield: Inorganic Chemistry

Field: Chemistry

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,500

Funder: Division of Materials Research