Hybrid compounds offer attractive opportunities to combine useful properties of both organic and inorganic simples within a single molecular scale composite. On the one hand, these salts offer, scientifically and technologically significant chances in different areas of catalysis, optical properties, biology, magnetic functional materials. On the other hand, they may contribute to higher electrical mobility (as a result of the strong covalent bonding within these systems) [1-4]. Halogenometalate hybrid compounds based on elements of transition (II) ions [5-7] prove to have a significant weight to fabricate low-cost electronic devices (as Thin Film Transistor or Organice- Inorganic Emitting Diode) [8,9]. Among the most frequently used of polydentate ligands which have the ability with bond to several metal centers, dipicolinic acid (C₇H₅NO₄, 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid) is a well-known that occurs in many natural compounds exhibiting various biological functions and potential pharmacological activities. 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic The ligand containing N and O polydentate donors, which pave the way provide great advantages for assembling compounds with new structures [10-14]. The dipicolinic acid ‘dpc’ ligand with Zn (II) ions has commonly 1 or 2 coordination modes. In one coordination mode, a single planar dpc ligand associates in the equatorial plane of a Zn (II) cation with other ligands such as H₂O or pyridine-based heterocycles, which occupy the remaining sites. This leads to the formation of square pyramidal or octahedral coordination geometry [15,16] or two perpendicularly coordinated planar dipicolinic molecules generating distorted octahedral coordination geometry [17,18]. Our central focus is on the determination of spectroscopic and structural properties of a new complex containing: dipicolinic cation together with zinc chloride ligand, namely Zn(dpc)Cl₂.H₂O. Moreover, we are equally interested in the study of the interactions between molecular coordination chemistry: derivatives of transition metal and aromatic pyridine polycarboxylates. Hirshfeld surfaces which help us investigate intermolecular interactions structure is constructed by dividing space into regions in which the electron density of the sum of spherical atoms in the crystal packing into a single (3D) surface. Moreover, the (3D) surface can be reduced into a (2D) fingerprint plot, which summarizes the complex information that atoms are genuinely interacting with one another present in crystals [19-21]. In addition our work presents the results of the spectroscopic analysis, MAS-NMR 13C characterization and the differential scanning calorimetry. The results of the simulation of the complex impedance are also reported by an equivalent circuit and conductivity measurements according to the conduction mechanism in the temperature range 298-418 K and the frequency range 209 Hz-5 MHz for Zn(dpc)Cl₂.H₂O.

Synthesis of Zn(dpc)Cl₂.H₂O compound

The Zn(dpc)Cl₂.H₂O crystal was prepared in stoichiometric condition by dissolving ZnCl₂ (0.73 mmol, 99%) and 2,6-pyridine dicarboxylic acid (1.49 mmol, 97%) in concentrated HCl solution (1 ml, 38%). The solution was left to evaporate slowly at room temperature. After a few months, an observed precipitate was separated by filtration, collected and dried to give colorless parallelepiped-shaped monocrystals. The material formula was determined by chemical elementary analysis and confirmed by structural refinement. A single crystal chosen was used for x-ray crystallography studies.

Characterization

The FT-IR spectra were recorded in the range of 4000-400 cm^-1 on a “Nicole Impact 410 FT-IR” spectrophotometer as a function of temperature, using a sample and KBr must be ground. The pellet was prepared by mixing 15 mg of powder sample with 300 mg of KBr (The KBr was dried at 383 K) compressing the whole into a disk. The heating of all 10 K of the [Zn(dpc)Cl₂].H₂O, pellet in the temperature range of 298-398 K was performed by an air-atmosphere Spectrac heating cell. The Raman spectra of powder sample was recorded between 50 and 4000 cm^-1 using LABRAMHR 800 triple mono-chromator instrument using the 514.5 nm line spectra-physics argon ion laser. The thermal analyses (TGA) were carried out using a Perkin Elmer Pyris 6 TGA thermogravimetric analyser. The differential scanning calorimetry analysis was obtained using a (SETARAM DSC 131-ks) instrument between 250K and 520 K at the heating rate of 5 K min^-1, with a powder sample of 20.3 mg in weight placed in a hermetic aluminum cell in a nitrogen atmosphere. The CP/MAS-NMR experiment was conducted at room temperature on a Bruker MSL 300 spectrometer operating at 75.48 MHz for 13C. The powdered sample was packed in a 4 mm diameter rotor and allowed to rotate at speeds up to 10 kHz in a Doty MAS probe head. During the whole acquisition time, the spinning rate of the rotor was locked to the required value thanks to the Bruker pneumatic unit which controls both bearing and drive inlet nitrogen pressures. The spectra were acquired by the use of cross-polarization for proton with 5 ms contact time. All chemical shifts (δ) were given with respect to tetramethylsilane, according to the IUPAC convention, i.e., shielding corresponds to negative values. Spectrum simulation was conducted using Bruker WINFIT software [22]. The chemical analysis of zinc and chloride atoms was performed to confirm the formula determined by the structural refinement [23]. The density of this compound was measured at room temperature by picnometry method.

Electrical measurements

The impedance spectroscopy analysis was obtained from pressed pellet discs of about 8 mm in diameter and 1.1 mm in thickness using a hydraulic press at a pressure of 4 × 10⁴ Nm^-2. The complex impedance was performed in the frequency range of 209 Hz-5 MHz using the TEGAM 3550 ALF impedance, automatic bridge monitored by a microcomputer, over the temperature range of 298-418 K.

Crystal data and structure identification

The experimental conditions used for the single crystal diffraction data collection are reported in Table 1. The data were collected on a BruKer AXS CCD area detector system equipped with monochromatic MoKα radiation (0.71073 Å) at 293(2) K. Lattice parameters were found from the setting angles of 8721 reflections in the 2.9 ≤ θ ≤ 28.9°. The crystal compound has a prismatic form has a prismatic form with a size of about (0.42 × 0.22 × 0.13) mm3. The empirical absorption corrections are based on multi-scan. The structure was solved using the Patterson method with the SHELXS 86 program [24]. The refinement was carried out by full-matrix least squares methods SHELEXL 97 program [25] and converged to an acceptable final agreement factor. All hydrogen atoms were refined isotropically. The last cycle of refinement included the atomic coordinates for all atoms, anisotropic thermal and isotropic thermal parameters, whose values are listed in Tables S1 and S2, respectively. The structure graphics were created with ORTEP [26] and DIAMOND [27] (Figure 1).

Table 1: Summary of crystal data, intensity measurement and refined parameters of Zn(dpc)Cl₂.H₂O compound.

Figure 1: The asymmetric unit of the Zn(dpc)Cl₂.H₂O compound. Ellipsoid represented at 50% probability level; only hydrogen atoms are not labeled.

Description of the structure

The title compound crystallizes in the orthorhombic system, Pnna space group, with unit cell dimensions, a=13.8816(4) Å, b=10.3602(3) Å and c=7.8967(2) Å. The asymmetric unit of Zn(dpc)Cl₂.H₂O shown in Figure 1 reveals that the organic part is related to the inorganic part by dative covalent bonds (coordination bonds). There are three basic relationships. It is the interaction between the empty orbital of zinc cation and a lone pair of the nitrogen, the relationship between the empty orbital of zinc cation and the electrons from the nitrogen lone pair, on the one hand, and the electrons from lone pairs of two oxygen atoms of two carboxylic acids groups of tridentate ligands of organic part, on the other hand. It is also the interaction with two chlorine atoms. The Zn (II) center metal binding site has a similar pentcoordinate model, and an NO₂Cl₂ donor set at Zn (II). It is composed of a tertiary amine nitrogen atom (pyridine N), two carboxylate O atoms and two chlorine Cl atoms as shown by the lengths of bonds Zn-Cl distance of 2.204 (3) Å, Zn-N distance of 2.047 (3) Å and Zn-O distance of 2.313 (18) Å. the results are more or less compatible to a similar system [28]. The bond lengths and angles of Zn-O-N, Zn-Cl-Cl, Cl-Zn-O and Zn-O-N are listed in Table S3. Three atoms, two chlorine atoms and a nitrogen atom, whose angles equal 120.19° and 118.22° (equatorial positions), are directly bonded to the zinc central atom to form a plane. The two oxygen atoms remain above and below the plane. A deflection angle implies that this coordination structure is a distorted trigonal-bipyramid. To confirm this geometry, a structural index τ has been calculated by the following formula [29]. τ=47%, which indicates that Zn (II) ion center in the complex form a distorted trigonal bipyramid coordination to a greater or less extent. The ideal trigonalbipyramidal geometry is indicated by the basal angle (120°) resulting a τ=1. The intermolecular forces, can be a rather complex process, they are consist of the hydrogen bonding of the type O-H···O, C-H···O and O-H···Cl and ion pairing (Figure 2). The hydrogen bonding is displayed in Table 2. Other non-covalent interactions formed, which are due to the presence of conjugated system of double bonds are C-H…π and C-O…π constructed between the C-H groups and C-O groups with the aromatic rings. These bonds are shorter than 3.9 Å (Figure S1) [30].

Table 2: Main inter–atomic distances and bond angles involved in the hydrogen bonds of Zn(dpc)Cl₂.H₂O crystal.

Figure 2: Packing diagram of the Zn(dpc)Cl₂.H₂O compound in the (b a) plane. Dotted lines represent hydrogen bonds.

Hirshfeld surface analysis

Hirshfeld surface analysis [21] is a method with a different design philosophy from traditional structure study: it treats molecular interactions in cells. Such an analysis of all existing interactions and different structural information will be obtained. Information about interactions possibly is indicated by using of surface color-coding differentiation. Hirshfeld surface (HS) analysis is almost constantly accompanied by 2D Fingerprint Plots (FP) [31]. The Hirshfeld surfaces of the title complexes are illustrated in Figure 3 showing surfaces that have been mapped over, d_norm, de and curvedness shape index. The information regarding intermolecular interactions which are presented in Table 2 is visible by the spots on the Hirshfeld surfaces. In such plots, relative areas of points, which can be attributed to certain close contacts, are identified and their percentage share is provided. The Hirshfeld surfaces of the complex are illustrated in Figure S2, showing surfaces that have been mapped over a d_norm. The normalized contact distance (d_norm) calculated using the both d_e and d_i and the van der Waals (vdW) radii of atoms. and showed circular depressions (deep red) visible in front and back surface are indicative of hydrogen bonding contacts and other visible spots are due to H…Cl, H…H, O…H…contacts (Figure S2).

Figure 3: Hirshfeld surfaces mapped with d_norm, d_e, curvedness and shape index of Zn(dpc)Cl₂.H₂O complex.

where d_e and d_i are the distances from the Hirshfeld surface to the nearest atom outside (external) and inside the surface.

Three-dimensional (3D) Hirshfeld surface maps are generated with d_norm has been visualized using a red-white-blue color scheme; shorter contacts, vdW contacts, and longer contacts, respectively, and two dimensional (2D) fingerprint plots generated using de and di. Hirshfeld surface analysis and the attribution were performed using Crystal Explorer 3.0 software [32]. The surfaces are represents as transparent to allow visualization of the complex, around which they were calculated. A diagram of percentage contributions of different intermolecular forces and the (2D) fingerprint plots of the compound indicate different interactions are shown in Figure 4. The O···H / H···O interactions are determined by as two distinct spikes in the fingerprint plot. The Hirshfeld surface do not shows a similar proportion of O…H (14.1%) and at H…O (12, 6%) interactions, which provide information on intermolecular hydrogen bonding. These contacts in this complex can be attributed to C-H···O, N-H···O and O-H···O hydrogen bond interactions manifest in Hirshfeld surfaces as red areas. The O···H interactions are represented by a sharp spike (d_e+d_i ~ 1.70 Å), while the H···O interactions are represented by a comparatively large spike (d_e+d_i ~ 1.73 Å). This is one of the closest contacts in the structures and can be viewed as numerous dark red spots on the dnorm surface. Reciprocal H···Cl / C···H dispersion forces are the second most abundant type of interactions in structures appear as two spikes in the (2D) fingerprint plots. These complementary regions are visible in the fingerprint where one molecule acts as donor (d_e>d_i) and other as an acceptor (d_i>d_e). The third largest contribution can be found for the H…H interactions, totaling 16.6%, reflecting in the middle of scattered points in the 2D fingerprint plots, exhibit a significant contribution of scattered points at the fingerprint plots. These are spread only up to (d_e=d_i=1.25 Å). There are a small variance in distribution of C-H···π interactions (confirming the presence of very weak. there are characteristic ‘‘wings’’ which are identified as a result of C-H···π interactions. The wings at the top left (d_ie) corresponds to points on the surface around the C-H donor, whereas that at the bottom right (de>di) corresponds to the surface around the π acceptor. Also, the structures are stabilized through C-O···π C…Cl interactions which are visible on the de surface as well as in fingerprint plots. Finally, these examples mark the value of Hirshfeld surfaces and in particular, fingerprint-plot analysis for the ‘visual screening’ and rapid detection of unusual crystal structures features.

Figure 4: Chematic illustration of decomposed figureprint plots of Zn(dpc)Cl₂.H₂O compound, different colors have been used for the various atom pair contacts.

FT-IR and FT-Raman spectroscopy

The FT-IR absorption frequencies of the title compound Zn(dpc) Cl₂.H₂O have been identified and compared with those of free ligand (2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid). Figure 5 presents the FT-IR spectra of the two compounds at room temperature. Some of the infrared absorption bands of the functional groups can be attributed by comparison with similar compounds. The examination of FT-IR spectrum affects the correlation of absorption bands in the spectrum (b) of Zn(dpc)Cl₂.H₂O compound with the spectra (a) of organic compound, which can be attributed to the chemical environment change of pyridine groups in the Zn(dpc)Cl₂.H₂O compound. This indicates that Zn-O and Zn-N bands appeared in the hybrid at 541 and 452 cm^-1 [33]. The patterns of the FT-IR spectrum of complex (b) reveal two vibration sets due to the aqua and dipicolinate ligands (Figure 5). The ν(O-H) vibrations belonging to the (H₂O) fragments are observed as two bands at the 3474 and 3423 cm^-1. Figure 6 displays the superposition of the FT-Infrared and FT-Raman spectra of the product Zn(dpc)Cl₂.H₂O performed at room temperature between 4000-400 cm^-1 and 4000-50 cm^-1, respectively. Referring to previous works, we attempted to determine the vibrational frequencies of the groups of the organic cation identification [33-35]. The FT-Raman spectrum [Zn(dpc)Cl₂].H₂O recorded between 500 and 100 cm^-1 is shown in Figure 8. Besides, the peaks of symmetric and asymmetric deformation vibration of Zn-Cl bond in the [Zn(dpc)Cl₂].H₂O appear at 217 and 194 cm^-1, respectively [36]. The external vibrations of the organic molecule can be determined by the low wavenumber. The main attempts of bands attribution are gathered in Table 3.

Table 3: Tentative of assignments of IR and Raman wavenumber in the range 4000-50 cm^-1 of Zn(dpc)Cl₂.H₂O.

Figure 5: FT-IR spectra of (a): C₇H₇NO₄ and (b): Zn(dpc)Cl₂.H₂O at room temperature.

Figure 6: Superposition of FT-IR and the Raman spectra of Zn(dpc)Cl₂.H₂O.H₂O compound at room temperature.

CP/MAS-RMN spectroscopy

The experimental spectrum of 13C nuclear magnetic resonance of Zn(dpc)Cl₂.H₂O between 90 and 270 ppm is presented in Figure 7. The fitting of the experimental spectrum of ¹³C using Lorentzian and Gaussian functions was performed with the Dmfit program [37]. In this spectrum, five singlets indicating no coupling with zinc nuclei are observed. The peak at lower field, 168.00 ppm, is attributed to C1 and C1a which are carboxylate carbons [38]. Referring to literature studies [39-41], the chemical shifts are reported in Table S4, showing that the high value of chemical shifts 145.23 ppm is assigned to carbons which are ortho to the nitrogen of a pyridine ring. The signals at 141.23, 132.93 and 130 ppm are assigned to three pyridine carbons: C4, C3 and C3a. The red spectrum proves to be in good agreement with accords well with the deconvolution emanating from the experimental results (blue spectrum). These results prove the presence of only one organic cation in the asymmetric unit of the compound in conformity with the X-ray diffraction data. Therefore we conclude that our crystals are pure.

Figure 7: Plots of experimental and fitted curves of the isotropic band of the ¹³C spectrum of [Zn(dpc)Cl₂].H₂O compound.

Thermal property

The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) curve of Zn(dpc)Cl₂. H₂O crystal is presented in Figure 8. An overview of this curve obviously shows the existence of three distinct endothermic peaks; the first at T=345K, the second at T=386K and the third at T=508K. The shapes of the observed scanning anomalies of the first peak suggest the existence of a structural phase transition at 345K (heating). Indeed, no weight loss was detected in TGA at this temperature, which confirms that the observed peak is a transition and the second peak at 386K (heating) corresponds to the evaporation of water molecules. Besides, the TGA curve shows that the compound exhibits one-weight loss observed around 386K. This weight loss equal to 5.2 ± 0.3% corresponds to the release of one structural water molecule, which is in good agreement with the calculated value 5.6 ± 0.3%. These are confirmed by dielectric studies at different temperatures. Furthermore, an endothermic peak occurring at 508K corresponds to the melting process of the Zn(dpc) Cl₂.H₂O complex. To obtain more information on the crystal, a hightemperature infrared study was carried out. Figure S3 shows the superposition of the Infrared spectra in the temperature range of 298-393 K. A progressive variation of the speed (look) of spectra was detected in the zone characterizing the vibrations of the water strain. This variation was observed between the temperatures 298K and 383K. The displacement of certain peaks and the disappearance of others in the field along the low-frequency are also reported. The obtained results are in agreement with those found by our previous DSC and TGA thermal study.

Figure 8: TGA-DSC runs at a rate of 5 k min–1 on heating of Zn(dpc)Cl₂.H₂O crystal.

Electric properties

Electrical impedance spectroscopy was used to characterize the Zn(dpc)Cl₂.H₂O. This technique utilizes alternating current in the temperature range [298-418K] and the frequency range [209 Hz-5 MHz] to determine the activation energies of the conduction and dielectric relaxation processes [42,43]. It is an important technique serving to separate the contributions of electro active regions such as the bulk, grain boundaries, electrode-solid interface and Warburg effects in the frequency domain [41,44,45]. Generally, the data in the complex plane is represented in any of the basic formalisms below, which are complex impedance (Z*), complex electric modulus (M*), which are related to each other:

Where (Z´, M´) and (Z" M") are the real and imaginary components of impedance and electrical modulus, respectively, ω=2πƒ is the angular frequency and j=√-1 is the imaginary factor. The complex impedance of “electrode/sample/electrode” configuration can be explained as the sum of a single Z_CPE with a parallel combination of R and CPE (R=resistance, CPE=constant phase element (CPE)) circuit. Z_CPE is usually considered as a dispersive capacitance, α is the measure of the capacitive nature of the element: if α=1, the element is an ideal capacitor, if α=0, it behaves as a frequency independent ohmic resistor. Thus, the impedance analysis is not ambiguous, and hence provides a clear and efficient graphical circuit analysis formalism to obtain “optimal” system.

Impedance analysis: Figures 9a and 9b show temperature dependence Nyquist Plots of the [Zn(dpc)Cl₂].H₂O measured at different temperatures [298-418K]. Moreover, it can be noticed that the complex impedance plots show that the arc of the semicircle lying below the real (Z´) axis (resistance) can be developed as an overlapped contribution, which confirms the polydispersive (multi-cole-cole type) nature of dielectric relaxation in this compound. As the temperature increases to 343K, the semicircles move to a lower value of resistance and the Warburg contributions start diminishing until their complete disappearance. The effect disappears above this temperature, then return to a heat impedance value and change their forms at T=388K.

Figure 9: The impedance complex plots (a) at different temperatures and (b) at T = [298–348K] of the Zn(dpc)Cl₂.H₂O.

Electric modulus analysis: Electric modulus formalism is an important theory, set up by Macedo et al. [44]. It permits not only to examine the charge transport processes in ion conductors (such as mechanism of electrical transport, conductivity relaxation and ion dynamics as a function of frequency and temperature) but also to eliminate electrode polarization effect. The electric modulus (M*) is obtained from the above expression:

where . Figure S4 shows the frequency dependence of the imaginary part of the electric modulus (M") at different temperatures. The plot shows an asymmetric behaviour with respect to peak maxima. These spectra also reflect the motions of the hydrogen in the material by exhibiting two apparent relaxation regions. The left parts of the peak indicate the conduction process while the region on the right is associated with the relaxation process where the ion can be well localized.

Circuit model: The complex impedance spectroscopy is a technique characterizing the electrical behavior of a system in which a number of strongly coupled processes exist. It helps to separate bulk (grain), grain boundary (intergrain), electrode-solid interface polarization and Warburg phenomena contributing in the transport properties of the material [46]. Impedance data can be fitted and analyzed on the basis of an ideal circuit model with discrete electrical components [47]. The measurements of impedance give information on resistive (real part) and reactive (imaginary part) components in a material. Typical impedance curves are reported in Figure 10. All obtained impedance curves are well fitted with the unique equivalent circuit (R_b, CPE_b), (R_gb, CPE_gb), (R_i, CPE_i) and (R_w, CPE_w), where R_b, R_gb R_i and R_w represent the bulk, grain boundary, electrode-solid interface polarization and Warburg resistance, respectively; and CPE_b, CPE_gb, CPE_i and CPE_w represent the bulk, grain boundary, electrode-solid interface polarization and Warburg constant-phase elements respectively. If the Warburg effects are excluded, then the equivalent circuit can be modeled with three semi-circles in the impedance plane.

Figure 10: Complex impedance plane plots at 318 K and equivalent circuit mode of Zn(dpc)Cl₂.H₂O compound. Impedance diagram obtained after fitting. Equivalent circuit used for modelling data presented in (A). The best fitting values are labeled as “fitted” in (A).

By means of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, the bulk resistance (R_b) for the different effects can be evaluated. This parameter also provides us with information about the easiness of bulk at the compound and additionally includes the electrochemically active grain boundary, electrode-solid interface polarization and Warburg parameters, not considered in the rate constant information. In Figure 10, the impedance spectra of this hybrid are depicted. The parameter R_b is obtained by fitting the impedance spectra to a simple equivalent circuit and the well-known Randles circuit is depicted in Figure 10. In such equivalent circuit, the other parameters have the following meanings: R_s, R_gb, R_i and R_w represent the resistance of the other phenomena, CPE is the constant phase element associated with capacitance of the bulk, grain boundary, electrode-solid interface polarization and Warburg impedance associated with the diffusion of the electro active species. The quantitative values of the bulk part obtained after fitting were listed in Table S5.

Conductivity analysis: The electrical conductivity is a thermally activated process that follows the Arrhenius law. The activation energy for the conduction (Ea) of this sample could be calculated from log(σT) versus 1000/T plot. Figure 11 depicts the Arrhenius plots of the conductivity evaluated from the impedance plots of the sample as a function of temperature. The corresponding activation energy found before and after fitting and that of the relaxation energy according to the opposite temperature (1000/T) of the bulk part are represented in Figure S4.

Figure 11: Dependence of log (σT) on temperature before and after fitting of Zn(dpc)Cl₂.H₂O compound.

The temperature dependence of the conductivity was studied and compared before and after fitting showing that the conductivity of the sample is influenced by the grain boundaries and the electrode interface phenomena. Within the framework of the studied temperature, there are three regions indicated as I, II and III separated at T=343K and T=388K. The values of the bulk conductivity obtained from the complex impedance semicircles Figure S4 in regions I, II and II are Ea1=0.03 eV, Ea2=0.04 eV and Ea3=0.07 eV, respectively. The peak frequency, f_max, for the bulk of this sample as a function of the inverse temperature is shown in Figure S4. The figure reveals that for the corresponding sample, there is an activated relaxation process (Arrhenius-type) in the temperature range of 298-418K with three regions separated at T=343K and T=388K. The values of the relaxation energy of the bulk in regions I, II and III are Er1=0.04 eV, Er2=0.30 eV and Er3=0.09 eV. In both the two regions I and III, the relaxation energy values are close to the values of the conductivity obtained from the complex impedance for the same temperature as regions I and III. This result implies that the charge carrier has to overcome the same energy barrier while conducting and relaxing. But there is a difference in the values of Ea2 and Er2 for region II. In that case, the relaxation of region II is attributed to a reorientation of H₂O due to the water reorientations and the proton displacement according to Colomban-Novak classification [48]. Consequently, the thermogravimetric (ATG) results show one change of spawn at T=385K and the scanning differential calorimetry (DSC) results show two endothermic peaks: the first one at T=345K and the second at T=386K this is due to a phase transition at T=345K and loss of mass (departure of the water structure) at T=386K, which may be interpreted by the fact that the conductivity in the three mentioned regions are ensured by the hydrogen mobility. Therefore, and considering the discussed results in terms of the values of the relaxation energy in the region II, this could be attributed to H⁺ jump and H₂O reorientation changing. In fact, the reorganization of the structural pattern or environment is an inherent part inside H₂O, which may explain the phase transition at T=345K.

Conclusion

The present work investigates the synthesis by slow evaporation at room temperature and explores physical–chemical properties of new organic-inorganic-zinc-chloride based on general formula [Zn(C₇H₅NO₄)Cl₂].H₂O. It appears that this compound, at room temperature, belongs to the orthorhombic system (space group Pnna). The cr.ystal structure has been characterized by X-ray diffraction; Hirshfeld surface fingerprint plots show different types of intermolecular interactions including hydrogen bonding, Infrared and Raman spectroscopy studies that are consistent with the structure. Most of the organic and inorganic contributions to the vibrations are identified. The NMR spectroscopy is proves to give a rather good insight of the chemical shift relative to ¹³C. The dielectric properties of the title compound are investigated using complex impedance spectroscopy. The electrical properties of the reported compound are studied as a function of frequency and temperature in the ranges of 209 Hz-5 MHz and 298K-418 K, respectively. The previously studied dielectric properties present two anomalies at 343 and 388K. These anomalies are also detected by technical TGA and DSC, which could be attributed to a phase transition at T=343K and the disappearance of the water molecule of the structure at T=388K. The value of the activation energy of the grain part implies that the conduction is performed by a hopping of a proton H⁺ and the value of the relaxation energy proves that this salt has the same mechanism of hopping. This material exhibits considerable conductivity at room temperature and is a possible candidate for electrode material in solid-state batteries.

Crystal data for a new complex containing: dipicolinic cation together with zinc chloride ligand, namely Zn(C₇H₅NO₄)Cl₂. H₂O (Zn(dpc)Cl₂.H₂O), has been deposited at the Cambridge Crystallographic Data Center as supplementary publications (CCDC- 977198). The data can be obtained free of charge from the Cambridge Crystallographic Data Center, 12 Union Road, Cambridge CB2 1EZ, UK, Fax: +441223336033; E-mail: deposit@ccda.cam.ac.uk.

The authors would like thank all members of the unit of common services, at the University of Sfax particularly Mr Tarek GARGOURI, for their valuable assistance and special support concerning the measurements of X-ray diffraction. The authors are also grateful to Prof Hamadi Khemakhem for his useful co-operation as far as the Raman spectroscopy measurement is concerned.