Perhaps no other area of chemical synthesis more deserves the title "exploratory" than does solid state synthesis. The majority of synthetic chemists have a measure of predictability in that the molecular units they work with remain relatively intact throughout their reactions, and so their goal is mainly to link one molecule to the next or to perform specific changes on molecular functional groups. The solid state synthetic chemist has almost no predictability in his reactions save for the simplest cases of elemental substitution, and even then can still have his predictions frustrated.
In order to improve that situation in the future, we work on the development of novel synthetic methodologies for the class of metal chalcogenide compounds. This involves the exploration of molten solids such as salts and salt melts and their application as solvents for exploratory synthesis and crystal growth. It also involves the use of stable preformed building blocks that end up in the final structures giving the solid a certain functionality.
One approach is to approach this chemistry from a solution chemist´s view rather than a conventional high temperature solid state chemistsís perspective. This allows for useful and profitable insights to be drawn from established knowledge in coordination chemistry.
Structure of ANb2P2S12 (A = K, Rb, Cs) obtained from salt melts and spiral structure elements containing PS43- groups as ligands.
T-dependence of the electrical conductivity and extended Hückel band structure of ANb2P2S12 indicating the occurence of an electronic instability
Chem. Eur. J. 10, 382-391 (2004).