Synthesis,Crystal Structure,and Optical Properties of (CH3NH3)2CoX4 (X = Cl,Br, I,Cl0.5Br0.5, Cl0.5I0.5, Br0.5I0.5)

The reaction of methylammonium halides and cobalt halides yielded the organic‐inorganic hybrid compounds of general formula (CH₃NH₃)₂CoX₄. By varying the different halides, we were able to synthesize the whole row from Cl to I as well as some mixed halides compounds and to determinate the crystal structures. (CH₃NH₃)₂CoX₄ (X = Cl, Br, Cl_0.5Br_0.5, Br_0.5I_0.5) crystallize isotypic to (CH₃NH₃)₂HgCl₄ in space group P2₁/c with Z = 4 X = Cl: a = 7.6483(9), b = 12.6885(18), c = 10.8752(12) Å, β = 96.639(9)°; X = Cl_0.5Br_0.5: a = 7.8271(9), b = 12.9543(9), c = 11.1007(11) Å, β = 96.320(8)°; X = Br: a = 7.9782(2), b = 13.1673(2), c = 11.2602(2) Å, β = 96.3260(10)° and X = Br_0.5I_0.5: a = 8.2435(12), b = 13.645(2), c = 11.5856(18) Å, β = 95.54(2)°]. The mixed halides show a statistic distribution in both cases. In (CH₃NH₃)₂CoCl₂I₂ an ordered variant is realized representing a new structure type C2/m, Z = 4, a = 18.808(4), b = 7.3604(7), c = 10.4109(17) Å, β = 120.364(13)°]. (CH₃NH₃)₂CoI₄ crystallizes again isotypic to the respective mercury compound (CH₃NH₃)₂HgCl₄] Pbca, Z = 8, a = 10.9265(5), b = 12.1552(5), c = 20.9588(9) Å]. All structures are build up by inorganic tetrahedral CoX₄]^2– anions and organic (CH₃NH₄)⁺ cations. Additionally the Raman spectra as well as the optical reflectance spectra are discussed.