Direct Evidence of the Effect of Water Molecules Position in the Spectroscopy, Dynamics, and Lighting Performance of an Eco-Friendly Mn-Based Organic-Inorganic Metal Halide Material for High-Performance LEDs and Solvent Vapor Sensing.

Luminescent Mn(II)-based organic-inorganic hybrid halides have drawn attention as potential materials for sensing and photonics applications. Here, the synthesis and characterization of methylammonium (MA) manganese bromide ((MA)(n)Br(x)Mn(H(2)O)(2), (n = 1, 4 and x = 3, 6)) with different stoichiometries of the organic cation and inorganic counterpart, are reported. While the Mn(2+) centers have an octahedral conformation, the two coordinating water molecules are found either in cis (1) or in trans (2) positions. The photophysical behavior of 1 reflects the luminescence of Mn(2+) in an octahedral environment. Although Mn(2+) in 2 also has octahedral coordination, at room temperature dual emission bands at ≈530 and ≈660 nm are observed, explained in terms of emission from Mn(2+) in tetragonally compressed octahedra and self-trapped excitons (STEs), respectively. Above the room temperature, 2 shows quasi-tetrahedral behavior with intense green emission, while at temperatures below 140 K, another STE band emerges at 570 nm. Time-resolved experiments (77-360 K) provide a clear picture of the excited dynamics. 2 shows rising components due to STEs formation equilibrated at room temperature with their precursors. Finally, the potential of these materials for the fabrication of color-tunable down-converted light-emitting diode (LED) and for detecting polar solvent vapors is shown.