Lead-free semiconductor materials with high phase transition temperature: [1-Methylimidazole][SbBr4]

Semiconductor with structure phase change is a special multi-functional material, which plays an important role in the field of Solar Energy, information computing, sensor technology, artificial intelligence, etc. In this paper, the organic–inorganic lead-free semiconductor phase change material [1-Methylimidazole][SbBr₄] (1) was successfully constructed. The IR, TGA, DSC, VT-PXRD, solid-state UV–vis spectroscopy and temperature dependence of dielectric constant were characterized and analysed. Single crystal X-ray diffraction shows that at 298 K, the space group is P2₁/c, the point group 2/m; an endothermic and exothermic peak appeared near 386 K and 367 K in the DSC heating–cooling cycles. Near the corresponding phase transition temperature point, compound 1 exhibits a significant reversible change in the dielectric platform. Interestingly, the band gap of compound 1 is about 2.53 eV. The existence of such interesting physical properties is closely related to the interaction between cations and anions in the molecule and the connection of internal hydrogen bonds. By constructing organic–inorganic hybrid semiconductor materials, we hope to obtain semiconductor materials with phase transition properties and actively explore and provide some ideas and support for the application of new high-tech materials.