Large and fast single-crystal resistive humidity sensitivity of metal pnictide halides containing van der Waals host-guest interactions.

Two new metal pnictide halides, (Hg(9.75)As(5.5))(GaCl4)3 and (Hg13Sb8)(ZnBr4)4, have been prepared by solid-state reactions. Their structures feature 3D cationic host frameworks built of mercury pnictide polyhedra and form 1D tunnels filled with discrete guest halide polyanions; the guests and hosts are assembled by van der Waals interactions. Both complexes exhibit good single-crystal humidity sensitivity, with a humidity sensitivity factor as big as three orders of magnitude, a quick resistance response, fast recovery, and good reproducibility. This study provide a new way to design promising resistive humidity detectors by introducing van der Waals host-guest interactions into their structures.