Synthesis, structure, and bonding in polyiodide and metal iodide-iodine systems

Polyiodide compounds exhibit a vast diversity of structures, preferentially of low-dimensional character, with conducting properties ranging from insulators to metals. Increasing structural complexity is attributed to the increase in I2 content of the compounds and through the interaction between the fundamental building blocks. The fundamental knowledge of polyiodide materials is now such that the application of polyiodide systems into interesting directions involving electronic and magnetic materials, host-guest compounds and as electrolytes for use in electrochemical devices, such as batteries and solar cells, is unprecedented.