Abstract
IT has been suggested1,2 that the chains of metal atoms found in the crystal lattices of many square planar d8 metal complexes might provide a path for electron transfer, detectable as semiconductivity. When reporting the polarized crystal spectra of Magnus' green salt (Pt(NH3)4PtCl4, MGS) and its analogues1, we briefly noted an attempt to measure the electrical conductivity of a single crystal of MGS from which it was concluded that the room temperature resistivity of the compound was extremely high. Since then two other measurements on MGS have appeared3,4, which show that its conductivity is considerably higher than we suggested. In an effort to discover whether enhanced electrical conductivity is indeed associated with the presence of closely spaced metal atoms in this type of compound, we have now examined the range of substances related to MGS by replacement of the NH3 with various alkylamines. It is known that such replacement both increases the Pt–Pt distance (ref. 2 and personal communication), and returns the visible and ultraviolet spectrum to a form more closely resembling that of K2PtCl4 (refs. 5 and 6). Our study confirms that MGS is an ohmic semiconductor and shows a clear relationship between conductivity and spectroscopic behaviour among the series of compounds.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Day, P., Orchard, A. F., Thomson, A. J., and Williams, R. J. P., J. Chem. Phys., 42, 1973 (1965).
Miller, J. R., J. Chem. Soc., 713 (1965).
Fritz, H. P., and Keller, H. J., Z. Naturforsch., 20b, 1145 (1965).
Collman, J. P., Chem. and Eng. News, 45, No. 52, 50 (1967).
Day, P., Orchard, A. F., Thomson, A. J., and Williams, R. J. P., J. Chem. Phys., 43, 3763 (1965).
Anex, B. G., Ross, M. E., and Hedgecock, M. W., J. Chem. Phys., 46, 1090 (1967).
Dickinson, R. G., J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 44, 2404 (1922).
Williams, D. E., Wohlamer, G., and Rundle, R. E., J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 81, 755 (1959).
Frasson, E., Parattoni, C., and Zannetti, R., Acta Cryst., 12, 1027 (1959).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
ATKINSON, L., DAY, P. & WILLIAMS, R. Semiconductivity of Magnus' Green Salt Analogues. Nature 218, 668–669 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1038/218668a0
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/218668a0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.