Hydrothermal synthesis, crystal structure and optical properties of a 2-D heterometallic iodoplumbate

A novel two-dimensional heterometallic iodoplumbate, [Pb3I10Cu4(phen)2]n (phen = 1,10-phenanthroline) constructed from [Pb3I10]4− iodoplumbate chains and [Cu2I4(phen)]2− entities has been hydrothermally synthesized and structurally characterized. The solid compound exhibits an intriguing semiconducting property with Eg = 2.62 eV. The thermochromic behavior of the compound has been also studied.