Philipp Kitschke

Porous Ge@C materials via twin polymerization of germanium( ii ) salicyl alcoholates for Li-ion batteries

The germylenes, germanium(II) 2-(oxidomethyl)phenolate (1), germanium(II) 4-methyl-2-(oxidomethyl)phenolate (2) and germanium(II) 4-bromo-2-(oxidomethyl)phenolate (3) were synthesized and their thermally induced twin polymerization to give organic–inorganic hybrid materials was studied. The compounds 1–3 form oligomers including dimers, trimers and tetramers as a result of intermolecular coordination of the benzylic oxygen atom to germanium. The structural motifs were studied by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and DFT-D calculations. Thermally induced twin polymerization of these germylenes gave hybrid materials based on germanium-containing phenolic resins. Carbonization of these resins under reductive conditions resulted in porous materials that are composed of germanium and carbon (Ge@C materials), while oxidation with air provided non-porous germanium dioxide. The porous Ge@C materials were tested as potential anode materials for rechargeable Li-ion batteries. Reversible capacities of 540 mA h g−1 were obtained at a current density of 346 mA g−1 without apparent fading for 100 cycles, which demonstrates that germanium is well accessible in the hybrid material.

Synthesis of germanium dioxide nanoparticles in benzyl alcohols – a comparison

Abstract The surfactant-free synthesis of β-phase germanium dioxide nanoparticles in ortho-methoxy benzyl alcohol and benzyl alcohol has been reported. Characterisation of the hexagonal β-GeO2 crystals, which involves powder X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption measurements (Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method), dynamic light scattering measurements, IR spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis has been presented. Synthesis of β-GeO2 under ambient conditions in benzyl alcohol results in nanoparticles with diameters below 20 nm, whereas the synthesis under inert conditions in benzyl alcohol at reflux (205°C) gives larger nanoparticles. In ortho-methoxy benzyl alcohol, agglomerates with particle sizes above 100 nm are observed under inert atmosphere conditions at room temperature.

Evaluation of dispersion type metal···π arene interaction in arylbismuth compounds – an experimental and theoretical study

The dispersion type Bi···π arene interaction is one of the important structural features in the assembly process of arylbismuth compounds. Several triarylbismuth compounds and polymorphs are discussed and compared based on the analysis of single crystal X-ray diffraction data and computational studies. First, the crystal structures of polymorphs of Ph3Bi (1) are described emphasizing on the description of London dispersion type bismuth···π arene interactions and other van der Waals interactions in the solid state and the effect of it on polymorphism. For comparison we have chosen the substituted arylbismuth compounds (C6H4-CH═CH2-4)3Bi (2), (C6H4-OMe-4)3Bi (3), (C6H3-t-Bu2-3,5)3Bi (4) and (C6H3-t-Bu2-3,5)2BiCl (5). The structural analyses revealed that only two of them show London dispersion type bismuth···π arene interactions. One of them is the styryl derivative 2, for which two polymorphs were isolated. Polymorph 2a crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group P212121, while polymorph 2b exhibits the monoclinic space group P21/c. The general structure of 2a is similar to the monoclinic C2/c modification of Ph3Bi (1a), which leads to the formation of zig-zag Bi–arenecentroid ribbons formed as a result of bismuth···π arene interactions and π···π intermolecular contacts. In the crystal structures of the polymorph 2b as well as for 4 bismuth···π arene interactions are not observed, but both compounds revealed C–HPh···π intermolecular contacts, as likewise observed in all of the three described polymorphs of Ph3Bi. For compound 3 intermolecular contacts as a result of coordination of the methoxy group to neighboring bismuth atoms are observed overruling Bi···π arene contacts. Compound 5 shows a combination of donor acceptor Bi···Cl and Bi···π arene interactions, resulting in an intermolecular pincer-type coordination at the bismuth atom. A detailed analysis of three polymorphs of Ph3Bi (1), which were chosen as model systems, at the DFT-D level of theory supported by DLPNO-CCSD(T) calculations reveals how van der Waals interactions between different structural features balance in order to stabilize molecular arrangements present in the crystal structure. Furthermore, the computational results allow to group this class of compounds into the range of heavy main group element compounds which have been characterized as dispersion energy donors in previous work.

From a Germylene to an “Inorganic Adamantane”: [{Ge4(μ-O)2(μ-OH)4}{W(CO)5}4]·4THF (X = OH, OR, N, C)

Invited for the cover of this issue are the group of Prof. Mehring (TU Chemnitz) and his collaboration partners Prof. Lang (TU Chemnitz) and Prof. Auer (MPI for Chemical Energy Conversion). The cover image shows an inorganic adamantane-type structure based on a germanium oxido cluster coordinated by W(CO)5. The arrows not only represent the coordination bonds but also point to four edifices in Chemnitz, which are typical for our city with a rich historical and industrial background.