Optical and photocatalytic properties of conjugated-organic-templates derived semiconducting iodocuprates hybrids

Two iodocuprates hybrids, [Me3TPB][Cu5I8] (1, Me3(TPB) = N,N′,N″-trimethyl-1,3,5-tris(4-pyridyl)benzene) and [Me3TIB]2[Cu15I21] (2, Me3(TIB) = N,N′,N″-trimethyl-1,3,5-tris(1-imidazolyl)benzene), directed by in-situ N-alkylation conjugated-organic-templates were solvothermally achieved. 1 features a one-dimensional (1-D) anionic chain built by {Cu5} clusters. 2 exhibits a 2-D layered network based on a rare {Cu15} cluster. 1 is expressed as the first case of halometallate based on TPB. Compared with raw material CuI, both of them possess narrower band gaps and show potential semiconductor properties, which lead to the efficient and stable photocatalytic behavior of 1 under visible-light irradiation. This work further demonstrates that the introduction of conjugated organic templates is beneficial to generating of semiconducting halometallates with narrow band gaps. [Display omitted] •Two novel iodocuprates directed by in situ generated conjugated-organic-templates were solvothermally obtained.•They possess narrow band gaps and show potential semiconductor properties.•The optical and photocatalytic properties have been investigated.