Zinc-Bisquinoline Coordination Assemblies of High Refractive Index and Film Uniformity

Photoluminescent properties of novel design heteroleptic Zn(II) complexes

Three novel heteroleptic Zn(II) complexes containing 8-hydroxy quinoline and various pyrazolone-based derivatives were synthesized and their structures confirmed by ¹ H-nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectrometry, Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy, UV-vis analysis and element analysis. All three complexes showed good photoluminescence properties in the solid state and in solution in the maximum emission range from 475 to 490 nm with a quantum yield of 0.45 to 0.51. Absorption spectra revealed that the complexes possessed a maximum absorption range of 272-281 nm with a band gap of 2.59-2.68 eV. The highest occupied molecular orbital and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital of all the complexes were determine by cyclic voltammetry. All complexes displayed high thermal stability. These characteristics were assessed to find suitability for an alternative cheap light emitter for organic light-emitting diodes.

Spectroscopic and magnetic properties of solvatochromic complex of Cu2+ and novel 3H-indolium derivative

A new solvatochromic complex of copper (II) and 3H-indolium (HQIndol) with the formula (HQIndol)3Cu has been synthesised and characterised by elemental analysis, UV-vis, IR spectroscopies, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), and static magnetic susceptibility and conductance measurements. The stoichiometry of complex has been determined as 1:3 (M:L) and the binding constant was calculated to be 5.86×10(16) mol(-1) L at 25 °C in CH3OH. Magnetization measurements indicate that (HQIndol)3Cu sample is paramagnetic with spin S=1/2 for which phase transition from paramagnetic to antiferromagnetic has been registered at TN=2.5 K. The symmetry of the EPR spectrum points to elongated tetragonal octahedral geometry of the complex. Examined heterochelate exhibits solvatochromic properties. Blue shift of the vis absorption band with increased solvent polarity is observed, Δν‾max in examined solvents amounts to 1466 cm(-1).

Versatile scheme for the step-by-step assembly of nanoparticle multilayers

A versatile scheme for the preparation of nanoparticle (NP) multilayers is presented. The method is based on the step-by-step assembly of NPs and bishydroxamate disulfide ligand molecules by means of metal-organic coordination using easily synthesized tetraoctylammonium bromide (TOAB)-stabilized gold NPs. The assembly of NP multilayers was carried out via a Zr(IV)-coordinated sandwich arrangement of the hydroxamate ligands on Au and glass surfaces. The latter were precoated with electrolessly deposited Au clusters to enable binding of the first NP layer. The new method avoids the need to perform elaborate colloid reactions to prepare the NP building blocks. Au NP monolayer and multilayer films prepared in this manner were characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy (TEM), showing a regular growth of NP layers. The use of coordination chemistry as the binding motif between repeat layers allows for the convenient assembly of hybrid nanostructures comprising molecular and NP components. This was demonstrated by the construction of Au NP multilayers with controlled spacing from the surface or between two NP layers. Drying the samples during or after the construction process induces NP aggregation and changes in the film morphology and optical properties.

Rapid formation of coordination multilayers using accelerated self-assembly procedure (ASAP)

Layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly of multilayers on surfaces using metal-organic coordination between consecutive layers is a well-established method for multilayer construction. The basic scheme includes self-assembly of a ligand (anchor) monolayer on the surface, followed by alternate binding of metal ions and multifunctional ligand layers to form a coordination multilayer. Binding of the ligand repeat unit to form a new layer is commonly a slow process, taking typically overnight to complete. This renders the process of multilayer preparation exceedingly slow and, in many cases, impractical. Here we describe a method for LbL synthesis of self-assembled coordination multilayers denoted accelerated self-assembly procedure (ASAP), where binding of a full organic ligand layer occurs in ca. 1 min. In the new protocol a small volume of a dilute ligand solution is spread on the substrate surface and evaporated under natural convection conditions, leaving the surface covered with excess ligand. Extensive rinsing in pure solvent results in complete removal of unbound molecules from the surface, leaving only the new coordinated layer. ASAP is demonstrated here by the construction of two kinds of coordination multilayers, comprising mercaptoundecanoic acid-Cu(II) and bishydroxamate-Zr(IV). Multilayers prepared by ASAP and by the standard (overnight adsorption) procedure are compared using ellipsometry, contact-angle, and FTIR data, showing regular multilayer growth in both cases. However, the rapid binding associated with ASAP may lead to a different structure than the one reached after prolonged assembly. Study of the ASAP mechanism suggests that the fast ligand binding kinetics are attributed to a large increase of the local ligand concentration at the moving liquid front when the solvent evaporates on the surface.

Metal quinolinolate-fullerene(s) donor-acceptor complexes: evidence for organic LED molecules acting as electron donors in photoinduced electron-transfer reactions

Tris(quinolinolate)aluminum(III) (AlQ3) is the most widely used molecule in organic light-emitting devices. There exists a strong demand for understanding the photochemical and photophysical events originating from this class of molecules. This paper provides the first report on the electron donor ability of MQ(n) (M = Al or Zn for n = 3 or 2) complexes covalently connected to a well-known electron acceptor, fullerene. To accomplish this, fullerene was functionalized with 8-hydroxyquinoline at different ligand positions and their corresponding zinc(II) and aluminum(III) complexes were formed in situ. The weakly fluorescent metal quinolinolate-fullerene complexes formed a new class of donor-acceptor conjugates. The stoichiometry and structure of the newly formed metal quinolinolate-fullerene complexes were established from various spectroscopic methods including matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and computational density functional theory studies. Electrochemical studies involving free-energy calculations suggested the possibility of photoinduced electron transfer from excited metal-quinolinolate complex to the appended fullerene entity. Femtosecond transient absorption studies confirmed such a claim and analysis of the kinetic data allowed us to establish the different photophysical events in sufficient detail. The novel features of this class of donor-acceptor conjugates include faster charge recombination compared to charge separation and decay of the charge-separated state to populate the low-lying fullerene triplet state in competition with direct charge recombination to the ground state.

Supramolecular sequential assembly of polymer thin films based on dimeric, dendrimeric, and polymeric Schiff-base ligands and metal ions

New metal-Schiff-base coordination polymer films were prepared using multiple sequential adsorption of metal ions and salen-based ligand molecules. As the ligands, bis-bidentate 5,5'-methylene-bis(N-methylsalicylidenamine) (MBSA), tetra-bidentate N,N',N' ',N' ''-tetrasalicylidene-polyamidoamine (TSPA), and multi-bidentate poly(N-salicylidenevinylamine) (PSVA) were used. The metal ions were Cu(II), Zn(II), Fe(II), Fe(III), and Ce(IV). The resulting films are deeply colored due to the formation of coordinative bonds between the metal ions and the salen groups. Our study indicates that film formation becomes progressively easier, if the number of salen groups per ligand molecule increases. While Cu(II), Ni(II), Fe, and Ce(IV) are well suited for complex formation, Zn(II) is less suited. Possible structures of the polymers are discussed. Cyclic voltammetric studies of the films are also presented.

Assembly of coordination nanostructures via ligand derivatization of oxide surfaces

A scheme is presented for the construction of coordination nanostructures on oxide surfaces (glass, Si/SiO2, quartz), based on application of epoxy-terminated monolayers as anchors for covalent grafting of ligands. Two ligands bearing amine groups were reacted with epoxysilane monolayers on oxide surfaces, providing ligand-terminated substrates. The ligands employed were (i) a pyridine moiety, used for subsequent binding of cobalt tetraphenylporphine (CoTPP), and (ii) deferoxamine (DFX), which contains hydroxamic acid moieties, used for subsequent construction of various Zr4+-based coordination layers. The results suggest that a dense ligand layer was obtained in both cases, allowing the formation of coordination overlayers on the oxide surfaces. The growth of coordinated layers was similar to analogous overlayers assembled on Au substrates, indicating that high ligand coverage is achieved by the epoxy-amine surface reaction. Epoxy-based functionalization of oxide substrates is a mild and efficient method for preparing high-quality coordination overlayers. Moreover, the method makes use of commercially available silane and amine reactants, providing the basis for wide application.

Branched Coordination Multilayers on Gold

A C3-symmetric tridentate hexahydroxamate ligand molecule was specially synthesized and used for coordination self-assembly of branched multilayers on Au surfaces precoated with a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of ligand anchors. Layer-by-layer (LbL) growth of multilayers via metal-organic coordination using Zr4+ ions proceeds with high regularity, adding one molecular layer in each step, as shown by ellipsometry, wettability, UV-vis spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The branched multilayer films display improved stiffness, as well as a unique defect self-repair capability, attributed to cross-linking in the layers and lateral expansion over defects during multilayer growth. Transmetalation, i.e., exposure of Zr4+-based assemblies to Hf4+ ions, was used to evaluate the cross-linking. Conductive atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to probe the electrical properties of the multilayers, revealing excellent dielectric behavior. The special properties of the branched layers were emphasized by comparison with analogous multilayers prepared similarly using linear (tetrahydroxamate) ligand molecules. The process of defect annihilation by bridging over defective areas, attributed to lateral expansion via the excess bishydroxamate groups, was demonstrated by introduction of artificial defects in the anchor monolayer, followed by assembly of two layers of either the linear or the branched molecule. Analysis of selective binding of Au nanoparticles (NPs) to unblocked defects emphasized the superior repair mechanism in the branched layers with respect to the linear ones.

Surface-Grafted Multiporphyrin Arrays as Light-Harvesting Antennae to Amplify Photocurrent Generation

Organized multiporphyrin arrays were developed on the conductive surface by a novel coordination-directed molecular architecture aiming at efficient photoelectric conversion. The basic strategy employs the mutual coordination of two imidazolylporphyrinatozinc(II) units to form a cofacial dimer. Thus, meso,meso-linked bis(imidazolylporphyrinatozinc) (Zn2(ImP)2) was organized onto imidazolylporphyrinatozinc on the gold substrate as a self-assembled monolayer. The organized Zn2(ImP)2 bearing allyl side chains was covalently linked by ring-closing olefin metathesis catalyzed with Grubbs catalyst. Alternating coordination/metathesis reactions allow the stepwise accumulation of multiporphyrin arrays on the gold electrode. A successive increase in absorption over a wide wavelength range occurred after each accumulation step of Zn2(ImP)2 on the gold electrode, and cathodic photocurrent generation was enhanced in the aqueous electrolyte system, containing viologen as an electron carrier. The significant increase of the photocurrent indicates that the multiporphyrin array works as a "light-harvesting antenna" on the gold electrode.

Electroluminescent zinc(II) bis(8-hydroxyquinoline): structural effects on electronic states and device performance

We present direct evidence for stable oligomers in vacuum-deposited thin films of zinc(II) bis(8-hydroxyquinoline) (Znq(2)). The tetramer [(Znq(2))(4)] is the energetically favored configuration in both the single crystal and the vacuum-deposited thin film. Oligomerization leads to distinct, symmetry-driven differences between the electronic states in Znq(2) and those in the archetypal organic electroluminescent molecule tris(8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminum (Alq(3)). In the case of the Znq(2) tetramer, symmetry leads to an extended network of overlapping pyridyl and phenolato moieties in the solid film. Analysis of the electronic structure of (Znq(2))(4) calculated by ab initio Hartree-Fock (HF) methods reveals a localization and energy shift of high-lying occupied and low-lying unoccupied states on symmetry related ligands located on opposite sides of the supramolecular structure resulting in a dipole moment for (Znq(2))(4) tetramer close to zero. The optimal pi-overlap pathways, altered charge distributions, and extended electronic states of tetrameric Znq(2) may be expected to enable low operating voltage organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs) based on Znq(2). We present preliminary evidence that the operating voltage of (Znq(2))(4)-based OLEDs is indeed lower than that of identical devices made with Alq(3). Strategic substitution of 8-hydroxyquinoline ligands and control of the structural symmetry of the corresponding metal chelates may offer a route to high efficiency and low operating voltage small molecule OLEDs.