The research is important because of the many technological applications of transition-metal chalcogenides such as superconducting materials, battery materials and hydroprocessing catalysts. It is planned to investigate certain aspects of soluble transition- metal chalcogenides (compounds of S, Se, Te) with a view toward developing a chemistry that is complementary to the solid-state efforts. In particular, it is proposed to concentrate on early transition metal selenides and tellurides. Synthetic strategies for these unknown ions include, for the case of Nb and Ta, solid-state reactions; these reactions may be applicable to the synthesis of the corresponding tellurides. The reaction chemistry to be studied includes acidification, heating, and interactions with simple chalcogens as well as with inorganic and organic chalcogens. The use of Se-77 NMR techniques for characterization of the selenides in solution and diffraction methods for the characterization of species isolated from solution is proposed. The compounds prepared from solution will provide interesting chemical and structural contrasts to those compounds that have been prepared by high-temperature solid-state reactions.
