Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of the layered hybrid metal halide poly[bis-(2-iodoethyl-ammonium) [di-μ-iodido-di-iodido-germanate(II)]].

The title compound is a germanium-based hybrid metal halide that represents a less-toxic alternative to more popular lead-based analogues in optoelectronic applications. {(2-IC2H4NH3)2[GeI4]} n is composed of infinite inorganic layers that are formed by [GeI6]4- octa-hedra connected in a corner-sharing manner with four equatorial I atoms. The organic (2-IC2H4NH3)+ cations inter-leave the inorganic layers. There are two types of 2-iodo-ethyl-ammonium cations, with synclinal and anti-periplanar conformations. The organic cations inter-act with the inorganic layers through hydrogen bonds and I⋯I contacts. The crystal under investigation was twinned by a 180° rotation around [100].