Crystal Structure and Spectroscopic Characterization of a New Hybrid Compound, (C12H17N2)2[CdBr4], for Energy Storage Applications

Abstract

Organic–inorganic hybrid materials have recently found a vast variety of applications in the fields of energy storage and microelectronics due to their outstanding electric and dielectric characteristics, including high dielectric constant, low conductivity, and low dielectric loss. However, despite the promising properties of these materials, there remains a need to explore novel compounds with improved performance for practical applications. In this research paper, the focus is on addressing this scientific challenge by synthesizing and characterizing the new-centrosymmetric (C₁₂H₁₇N₂)₂[CdBr₄] crystal. This compound offers potential advancements in energy storage technologies and microelectronics due to its unique structural and electronic properties. The chemical mentioned above crystallizes in the monoclinic system, and its protonated amine (C₁₂H₁₇N₂)⁺ and isolated anion [CdBr₄]^2– are bound by C–H···π and N–H···Br hydrogen bonds to form its zero-dimensional structure. Through optical absorption analysis, the semiconductor nature of the material is verified, showcasing a band gap of around 2.9 eV. Furthermore, an in-depth examination of Nyquist plots reveals the material’s electrical characteristics’ sensitivity to frequency and temperature variations. By applying Jonscher’s power law to analyze ac conductivity plots, it is observed that the variation in the exponent “s” accurately characterizes the conduction mechanism, aligning with CBH models. The compound exhibits low dielectric loss values and a high permittivity value (ε ∼ 10⁵), making it a promising candidate for energy storage applications. By managing the scientific challenge of improving material performance for energy storage and microelectronics, this research contributes to advancing the field and opens avenues for further exploration and application of organic–inorganic hybrid materials.