[C₆N₂H₁₈][SbI₅]: A Lead-free Hybrid Halide Semiconductor with Exceptional Dielectric Relaxation

[C6N2H18]­[SbI5] (1), a novel metal halide semiconductor with dielectric relaxation behavior, has been successfully synthesized, in which the cavities between the one-dimensional [SbI5]n2– polyanions are occupied by 2-methyl-1,5-pentanediammonium (2-MPDA) cations. 1 undergoes a reversible solid-state phase transition at TC = 192.7 K and shows a step-like dielectric anomaly. Interestingly, above TC, distinct dielectric dispersion in a wide temperature range is also witnessed. Remarkably, the solid state UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectrum of 1 exhibits a slightly gentler absorption edge at about 650 nm; that is, 1 adopts an indirect band gap with 1.92 electron volts. The combined narrow band gap, strong photoconductivity effect, and excellent dielectric relaxation might shed light on the exploitation of lead-free hybrid metal halide molecular materials with promising application prospects in thermoresponsive relaxation-type dielectric materials and photovoltaic conversion devices