Large and Fast Single-Crystal Resistive Humidity Sensitivity of Metal Pnictide Halides Containing van der Waals Host-Guest Interactions

• Published in: Chemistry, an Asian journal Vol. 9; no. 10; pp. 2872 - 2879
• Main Authors: Jiang, Xiao-Ming, Yan, Zhi-Bo, Liu, Dan, Wang, Ke-Feng, Guo, Guo-Cong, Li, Shao-Zhen, Liu, Jun-Ming
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim WILEY-VCH Verlag 01.10.2014; WILEY‐VCH Verlag; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Adhesion; Chemistry; halides; host-guest interactions; Humidity; humidity sensitivity; pnictides; solid-state reactions; humidity sensitivity; solid-state reactions; halides; pnictides; host-guest interactions
• ISSN: 1861-4728; 1861-471X
• DOI: 10.1002/asia.201402572

Two new metal pnictide halides, (Hg9.75As5.5)(GaCl4)3 and (Hg13Sb8)(ZnBr4)4, have been prepared by solid‐state reactions. Their structures feature 3D cationic host frameworks built of mercury pnictide polyhedra and form 1D tunnels filled with discrete guest halide polyanions; the guests and hosts are assembled by van der Waals interactions. Both complexes exhibit good single‐crystal humidity sensitivity, with a humidity sensitivity factor as big as three orders of magnitude, a quick resistance response, fast recovery, and good reproducibility. This study provide a new way to design promising resistive humidity detectors by introducing van der Waals host–guest interactions into their structures. Designing detectors: Two new inorganic complexes, (Hg9.75As5.5)(GaCl4)3 and (Hg13Sb8)(ZnBr4)4, containing weak van der Waals host–guest interactions have been prepared by solid‐state reactions. Both complexes exhibit good single‐crystal humidity sensitivity, with a humidity sensitivity factor as large as three orders of magnitude, a quick resistance response, fast recovery, and good reproducibility (see picture).