Determining Factors to Understand the External Quantum Efficiency Values: Study Carried Out with Copper(I)-I and 1,2-Bis(4-pyridyl)ethane Coordination Polymers as Downshifters in Photovoltaic Modules

Downshifters refer to compounds with the capacity to absorb UV photons and transform them into visible light. The integration of such downshifters has the potential to improve the efficiency of commercial photovoltaic modules. Initially, costly lanthanide derivatives and organic fluorescent dyes were introduced, resulting in a heightened module efficiency. In a novel research direction guided by the same physicochemical principles, the utilization of copper(I) coordination compounds is proposed. This choice is motivated by its simpler and more economical synthesis, primarily due to copper being a more abundant and less toxic element. Our proposal involves employing 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl) ethane (bpe), an economically viable commercial ligand, in conjunction with CuI to synthesize coordination polymers: [CuI(bpe)]n(1), [Cu3I3(bpe)3]n(2), and [CuI(bpe)0.5]n(3). These polymers exhibit the ability to absorb UV photons and emit light within the green and orange spectra. To conduct external quantum efficiency studies, the compounds are dispersed on glass and then encapsulated with ethylene vinyl acetate through heating to 150 °C. Interestingly, during these procedural steps, the solvents and temperatures employed induce a phase transformation, which has been thoroughly examined through both experimental analysis and theoretical calculations. The outcomes of these studies reveal an enhancement in external quantum efficiency with [Cu3I3(bpe)3]n(2), at a cost significantly lower (between 340 and 350 times) than that associated with lanthanide DS complexes.

Exploring Ln(III)-Ion-Based Luminescent Species as Down-Shifters for Photovoltaic Solar Cells

In this work, we have compiled our research on lanthanide-based luminescent materials for use as down-shifter layers in photovoltaic (PV) mini-modules. The complexes we have prepared (C1-17), with formulas [Eu₂(phen)₂(bz)₆] (C1), [Eu₂(bphen)₂(bz)₆] (C2), [Eu(tta)₃bphen] (C3), [Eu(bta)₃pyz-phen] (C4), [Eu(tta)₃pyz-phen] (C5), [Eu(bta)₃me-phen] (C6), [Er(bta)₃me-phen] (C7), [Yb(bta)₃me-phen] (C8), [Gd(bta)₃me-phen] (C9), [Yb(bta)₃pyz-phen] (C10), [Er(tta)₃pyz-phen] (C11), [Eu₂(bz)₄(tta)₂(phen)₂] (C12), [Gd₂(bz)₄(tta)₂(phen)₂] (C13), [EuTb(bz)₄(tta)₂(phen)₂] (C14), [EuGd(bz)₄(tta)₂(phen)₂] (C15), [Eu_1.2Gd_0.8(bz)₄(tta)₂(phen)₂] (C16), and [Eu_1.6Gd_0.4(bz)₄(tta)₂(phen)₂] (C17), can be grouped into three families based on their composition: Complexes C1-6 were synthesized using Eu³⁺ ions and phenanthroline derivatives as the neutral ligands and fluorinated β-diketonates as the anionic ligands. Complexes C7-11 were prepared with ligands similar to those of complexes C1-6 but were synthesized with Er³⁺, Yb³⁺, or Gd³⁺ ions. Complexes C12-17 have the general formula [M1M2(bz)₄(tta)₂(phen)₂], where M1 and M2 can be Eu³⁺, Gd³⁺, or Tb³⁺ ions, and the ligands were benzoate (bz^-), 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetone (tta^-), and 1,10-phenanthroline (phen). Most of the complexes were characterized using X-ray techniques, and their photoluminescent properties were studied. We then assessed the impact of complexes in the C1-6 and C12-17 series on the EQE of PV mini-modules and examined the durability of one of the complexes (C6) in a climate chamber when embedded in PMMA and EVA films. This study emphasizes the methodology employed and the key findings, including enhanced mini-module efficiency. Additionally, we present promising results on the application of complex C6 in a bifacial solar cell.

Europium(III)-Doped Gadolinium(III) Complex for High-Sensitivity Temperature Sensing in the Physiological Range

A new Eu³⁺-doped Gd³⁺ complex of formula [Eu_0.0135Gd_0.9865(pta)₃me-phen] was synthesized and structurally characterized (Hpta = benzoyltrifluoroacetone, me-phen = 5-methyl-1,10-phenanthroline). The photoluminescence study revealed that when the compound was excited at RT, under a 457 nm continuous laser, the material exhibited high luminescence due to the antenna effect of the ligands, as well as a good balance between the phosphorescence from the spin-forbidden triplet (from the organic ligands), and the characteristic lanthanide f-f transitions. The ratio between the previous emissions drastically changed when the sample was heated up to 62 °C inside a tubular furnace. This ratio was investigated using the luminescence intensity ratio method, to analyze the capabilities of the sample as a temperature sensor. The relative sensitivity reached a maximum of 11.4 °C^-1 %, maintaining a detection limit below 0.15 °C for the whole temperature range.

Improvement of the Proton Conduction of Copper(II)-Mesoxalate Metal-Organic Frameworks by Strategic Selection of the Counterions

Three copper(II)/mesoxalate-based MOFs with formulas (H₃O)[Cu₉(Hmesox)₆(H₂O)₆Cl]·8H₂O (1), (NH₂Me₂)_0.4(H₃O)_0.6[Cu₉(Hmesox)₆(H₂O)₆Cl]·8H₂O (2), and (enH₂)_0.25(enH)_1.5[Cu₆(Hmesox)₃(mesox)(H₂O)₆Cl_0.5]Cl_0.5·5.25H₂O (3) were synthesized (H₄mesox = mesoxalic acid = 2,2-dihydroxypropanedioic acid, en = ethylenediamine). Essentially, all of the compounds display the same anionic network with a different arrangement of the cations, which have a remarkable effect on the proton conduction of the materials, ranging from 1.16 × 10^–4 S cm^–1 for 1 to 1.87 × 10^–3 S cm^–1 for 3 (at 80 °C and 95% RH). These compounds also display antiferromagnetic coupling among the copper(II) ions through both the carboxylate and alkoxido bridges. The values of the principal magnetic coupling constants were calculated by density functional theory (DFT), leading to congruent values that confirm the predominant antiferromagnetic nature of the interactions.

Three copper(II)-mesoxalate metal−organic frameworks were synthesized in the presence of three different cations: hydronium, dimethylammonium, and ethylenediammonium, which neutralize the charge of the anionic networks. Besides the crystallographic characterization and the investigation of the magnetic properties, the compounds show varying proton conductivities depending on the included cations. The proton conductivity increases 1 order of magnitude in the case of compound 3 (1.87 × 10⁻³ S cm⁻¹ at 80 °C and 95% RH), which contains ethylenediammonium cations.

Highly luminescent mixed-ligand bimetallic lanthanoid(III) complexes for photovoltaic applications

Six new mixed-ligand bimetallic complexes [Eu₂(bz)₄(tta)₂(phen)₂] (1), [Gd₂(bz)₄(tta)₂(phen)₂] (2), [EuTb(bz)₄(tta)₂(phen)₂] (3), [EuGd(bz)₄(tta)₂(phen)₂] (4), [Eu_1,2Gd_0,8(bz)₄(tta)₂(phen)₂] (5) and [Eu_1,6Gd_0,4(bz)₄(tta)₂(phen)₂] (6) have been prepared with the Eu³⁺, Gd³⁺ and Tb³⁺ ions and the benzoate (bz^-), 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetonate (tta^-) and the 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) ligands. The compounds combine highly efficient antennas to obtain highly luminescent complexes to enhance solar cell efficiency. The benzoate ligand has been chosen to take its advantage as a bridging ligand to end up with bimetallic complexes to study the effect of combining two metal ions in the luminescent molecule. The structure of 1 was obtained by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and 1-6 were found to be isostructural by powder X-ray diffraction analysis. The photophysical properties were studied by the absorbance and emission spectra and emission lifetimes. The magnetic properties of 2 were studied, and we found intramolecular antiferromagnetic interactions between the Gd³⁺ ions. We prepared luminescent down-shifting layers (LDSL) with the 1, 3-6 complexes embedded in ethylene-vinyl-acetate and studied their effect in the external quantum efficiency (EQE) and intensity-voltage (I-V) plots of a solar mini-module. We found that LDSL containing the bimetallic complexes 3 and 6 enhance the efficiency of the solar mini-module from 11.26(3)% to 11.76(4)% (+0.52%) and to 11.44(2)% (+0.21%), respectively.

Visible and NIR emitting Yb(iii) and Er(iii) complexes sensitized by β-diketonates and phenanthroline derivatives

Long lifetimes and high quantum yields are obtained in the reported complexes.

The effect of the orientation of the Jahn–Teller distortion on the magnetic interactions of trinuclear mixed-valence Mn(ii)/Mn(iii) complexes

The effect of the orientation of the Jahn–Teller distortion on the magnetic interactions in two new mixed-valence trinuclear Mn(iii)–Mn(ii)–Mn(iii) complexes has been investigated.

Magnetostructural relationships in polymorphic ethylmalonate-containing copper(ii) coordination polymers

Three ethylmalonate-containing non-centrosymmetric copper(ii) coordination polymers with magnetic properties ranging from antiferromagnetism to ferromagnetic ordering are synthetized under nearly identical conditions.

Effect of the apical ligand on the geometry and magnetic properties of copper(ii)/mesoxalate trinuclear units

Three new heterometallic metal-organic frameworks, namely, {(Ph₄P)₂[MnCu₃(Hmesox)₃Br(H₂O)]·H₂O}_n (1), {(Ph₄P)₂[CoCu₃(Hmesox)₃Br]}_n (2) and {(Ph₄P)₂[ZnCu₃(Hmesox)₃Br]·2.5H₂O}_n (3) were prepared and their structure and magnetic properties were investigated (H₄mesox = mesoxalic acid, Ph₄P⁺ = tetraphenylphosphonium). The structure of all the compounds consist of two interpenetrating opposite-chirality supramolecular cationic and polymeric anionic 3-D (10,3)-a networks, which results in chiral compounds. The anionic network is formed from the polymerization of [Cu₃(Hmesox)₃Br]^4- units, working as three connectors, and M(ii) cations, working as three-connecting nodes, M = Mn(ii), Co(ii) and Zn(ii). The Ph₄P⁺ cations build the cationic chiral supramolecular network opposite to the anionic one. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibit long-range magnetic ordering with critical temperatures of 7.2 K and 6.9 K, respectively. However, compound 3 does not display long-range order, but shows ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic coupling among the Cu(ii) ions. The magnetic interactions are studied by DFT calculations and compared with related Cu(ii)-mesoxalate compounds previously reported.

Mesoxalate as Cu(ii)–Ln(iii) linker in the construction of MOFs in DMSO/water medium

The combination of [Cu₃(Hmesox)₃]³⁻ with La(iii), Ce(iii), Pr(iii), Nd(iii) and Eu(iii) in DMSO/H₂O yields 3d–4f heterometallic metal–organic frameworks, with the dimensionality of the network being controlled by the coordination number of the Ln(iii) ion.

Synthesis, structure, magnetic properties and EPR spectroscopy of a copper(ii) coordination polymer with a ditopic hydrazone ligand and acetate bridges

The synthesis, structure, EPR spectroscopy and magnetic properties of a 1D coordination polymer of Cu(ii) containing two kinds of acetate bridged dimers is reported.

Influence of the coligand in the magnetic properties of a series of copper(ii)–phenylmalonate complexes

The magnetic properties of a series of copper(ii)–phenylmalonate complexes are tuned by the pyridine-type coligand.

1,3,5,7-Tetrakis(tetrazol-5-yl)-adamantane: the smallest tetrahedral tetrazole-functionalized ligand and its complexes formed by reaction with anhydrous M(ii)Cl2(M = Mn, Cu, Zn, Cd)

Porous [M₄Cl₄L₂] framework complexes with gismondine zeolite topology, manifesting a tetrahedral ligand ‘imprinting’, which stimulates the realization of effectively tetrahedral metal-tetrazolato/chlorido clusters, are in the focus of the report.

Metamagnetism in hydrophobically induced carboxylate (phenylmalonate)-bridged copper(ii) layers

Self-assembly of copper(l) ions, phenylmalonate and pyrimidine yields the layered compound [Cu(pym)(Phmal)n (1) where intralayer ferro- and interlayer antiferromagnetic interactions occur with three-dimensional antiferromagnetic ordering at T(c) = 2.15 K.

Polymeric Networks of Copper(II) Phenylmalonate with Heteroaromatic N-donor Ligands: Synthesis, Crystal Structure, and Magnetic Properties

Two new phenylmalonate-bridged copper(II) complexes with the formulas [Cu(4,4'-bpy)(Phmal)](n).2nH(2)O (1) and [Cu(2,4'-bpy)(Phmal)(H(2)O)](n)() (2) (Phmal = phenylmalonate dianion, 4,4'-bpy = 4,4'-bipyridine, 2,4'-bpy = 2,4'-bipyridine) have been synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction. Complex 1 crystallizes in monoclinic space group P2(1), Z = 4, with unit cell parameters of a = 9.0837(6) Angstroms, b = 9.3514(4) Angstroms, c = 11.0831(8) Angstroms, and beta = 107.807(6) degrees , whereas complex 2 crystallizes in orthorhombic space group C2cb, Z = 8, with unit cell parameters of a = 10.1579(7) Angstroms, b = 10.3640(8) Angstroms, and c = 33.313(4) Angstroms. The structures of 1 and 2 consist of layers of copper(II) ions with bridging bis-monodentate phenylmalonate (1 and 2) and 4,4'-bpy (1) ligands and terminal monodentate 2,4'-bpy (2) groups. Each layer in 1 contains rectangles with dimensions of 11.08 x 4.99 Angstroms(2), the edges being defined by the Phmal and 4,4'-bpy ligands. The intralayer copper-copper separations in 1 through the anti-syn equatorial-apical carboxylate-bridge and the 4,4'-bpy molecule are 4.9922(4) and 11.083(1) Angstroms, respectively. The anti-syn equatorial-equatorial carboxylate bridge links the copper(II) atoms in complex 2 within each layer with a mean copper-copper separation of 5.3709(8) Angstroms. The presence of 2,4'-bpy as a terminal ligand accounts for the large interlayer separation of 15.22 Angstroms. The copper(II) environment presents a static pseudo-Jahn-Teller disorder which has been studied by EPR and low-temperature X-ray diffraction. Magnetic susceptibility measurements of both compounds in the temperature range 2-290 K show the occurrence of weak antiferromagnetic [J = -0.59(1) cm(-1) (1)] and ferromagnetic [J = +0.77(1) cm(-1) (2)] interactions between the copper(II) ions. The conformation of the phenylmalonate-carboxylate bridge and other structural factors, such as the planarity of the exchange pathway in 1, account for the different nature of the magnetic interaction.

Design of high-dimensional copper(II) malonate complexes with exo-polydentate N-donor ligands

Two polymeric malonato-bridged copper(II) complexes of formulas [(H(2)bpe)[Cu(mal)2]]n.4nH2O (1) and [Cu(4")(mal)(4)(bpe)(3)]n.6nH(2)O (2) [mal = malonate dianion; bpe = 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene] have been synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction. Complex 1 crystallizes in triclinic space group P(-)1, Z = 1, with unit cell parameters a = 4.8831(10) A, b = 9.585(2) A, c = 11.813(2) A, alpha = 77.29(3) degrees, beta = 82.18(3) degrees, and gamma = 84.92(3) degrees, whereas complex 2 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/n, Z = 4, with unit cell parameters a = 13.462(3) A, b = 10.275(5) A, c = 19.579(4) A, and beta = 105.21(3) degrees. The structure of 1 consists of anionic malonato-bridged uniform copper(II) chains which are connected through hydrogen bonds involving malonate-oxygen atoms, noncoordinated water molecules, and H(2)bpe(2+) cations. The intrachain copper-copper separation through carboxylate-malonate bridge in the anti-syn conformation is 4.8831(10) A. Complex 2 possesses a three-dimensional structure made up of neutral corrugated malonated-bridged copper(II) layers linked through bis-monodentate bpe molecules. The copper(II) atoms within each layer are bridged by a double mu-oxo and four carboxylato-malonate bridges with copper-copper separations of 3.4095(7) A (through oxo) and 4.9488(11)-6.5268(13) A (through carboxylato). The shortest interlayer copper-copper separation across bridging bpe is 13.434(3) A. Variable-temperature magnetic measurements (2-290 K) show an overall ferromagnetic behavior for both compounds. The magnetic pathway of complex 1 is through a single carboxylate-malonate bridge connecting apical and equatorial positions of adjacent copper(II) atoms, and the value of the magnetic coupling (J) for 1 through a numerical expression for a ferromagnetic uniform chain of interacting local doublets is J = +0.049(1) cm(-1). The values for the magnetic couplings through the main intralayer exchange pathways in 2 which correspond to carboxylate-malonate bridges connecting equatorial-equatorial (J(1)) and equatorial-apical (J(2)) coordination sites and to the double mu-oxo bridge linking equatorial-apical (J(5)) positions have been determined through a simplified model. The three magnetic couplings are weak, two of them being ferromagnetic (J(1) = +23(1) cm(-1) and J(2) = +6.5(1) cm(-1)) and the other one antiferromagnetic [zJ' = -1.0(1) cm(-1)]. The values of the magnetic couplings in 1 and 2 compare well with those previously reported for similar malonato-bridged copper(II) complexes of different dimensionalities.

Holo- and hemidirected lead(II) in the polymeric [Pb(4)(mu-3,4-TDTA)2(H2O)2]*4H2O complex. N,N,N',N'-tetraacetate ligands derived from o-phenylenediamines as sequestering agents for lead(II)

The coordinating ability of the ligands 3,4-toluenediamine-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetate (3,4-TDTA), o-phenylenediamine-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetate (o-PhDTA), and 4-chloro-1,2-phenylenediamine-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetate (4-Cl-o-PhDTA) (H4L acids) toward lead(II) is studied by potentiometry (25 degrees C, I = 0.5 mol x dm(-3) in NaClO4), UV-vis spectrophotometry, and 207Pb NMR spectrometry. The stability constants of the complex species formed were determined. X-ray diffraction structural analysis of the complex [Pb4(mu-3,4-TDTA)4(H2O)2]*4H2O (1) revealed that 1 has a 2-D structure. The layers are built up by the polymerization of centrosymmetric [Pb4L2(H2O)2] tetranuclear units. The neutral layers have the aromatic rings of the ligands pointing to the periphery, whereas the metallic ions are located in the central part of the layers. In compound 1, two types of six-coordinate lead(II) environments are produced. The Pb(1) is coordinated to two nitrogen atoms and four carboxylate oxygens from the ligand, whereas Pb(2) has an O6 trigonally distorted octahedral surrounding. The lead(II) ion is surrounded by five carboxylate oxygens and a water molecule. The carboxylate oxygens belong to four different ligands that are also joined to four other Pb(1) ions. The selective uptake of lead(II) was analyzed by means of chemical speciation diagrams as well as the so-called conditional or effective formation constants K(Pb)eff. The results indicate that, in competition with other ligands that are strong complexing agents for lead(II), our ligands are better sequestering agents in acidic media.