Molecular assembly of CuBrSe3 in ethylene glycol solvent

CuBrSe3 has been synthesized by the reaction between CuBr2 and Se in ethylene glycol (EG) solvent at 100 °C. In the process, CuBr2 was reduced to brom-complexes of Cu(I), such as View the MathML sourceCuBr2-, the complexes participated in the reaction as intermediates. Based on experimental results and the structure characterization of CuBrSe3 crystal, a possible mechanism for CuBrSe3 formation was proposed. The mechanism suggests that Se chains assembly with the brom-complexes of Cu(I) to form CuBr helical chains, and then CuBrSe3 crystal.