Design of Promising Uranyl(VI) Complexes Thin Films with Potential Applications in Molecular Electronics

Abstract

In this work, it is proposed the development of organic semiconductors (OS) based on uranyl(VI) complexes. The above by means of the synthesis and the characterization of the complexes by Infrared spectroscopy, Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and X‐ray diffraction. Films of these complexes were deposited and subsequently, topographic and structural characterization was carried out by Scanning Electron Microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, and Atomic Force Microscopy. Additionally, the nanomechanical evaluation was performed to know the stiffness of uranyl films using their modulus of elasticity. Also, the optical characterization took place in the devices and their bandgap value ranges between 2.40 and 2.93 eV being the minor for the film of the uranyl complex with the N on pyridine in position 4 (2 c). Finally, the electrical behavior of the uranyl(VI) films was evaluated, and important differences were obtained: the uranyl complex with the N on pyridine in position 2 (2 a) film is not influenced by changes in lighting and its current density is in the order of 10−3 A/cm2. The film with uranyl complex with the N on pyridine in position 3 (2 b) and 2 c presents a greater current flow under lighting conditions and two orders of magnitude larger than in film 2 a. In these films 2 b and 2 c, ohmic behavior occurs at low voltages, while at high voltages the charge transport changes to space‐charge limited current behavior.

Synthesis of New Ruthenium Complexes and Their Exploratory Study as Polymer Hybrid Composites in Organic Electronics

“…The use of indanones with different metals, such as iron, copper, tin, vanadium, and uranium, to increase their semiconductivity has also been reported by some authors in this work [13][14][15][16][17]. The complexes derived from 2-benzylidene-1-indanones are stable semiconductors with interesting optical and electrical properties due to their π-conjugate system and the presence of transition metals in their structure.…”

“…It is important to note that ligand 1b (Figure 2) is a new molecule; consequently, the physical and spectroscopic information is incorporated in the manuscript. The rest of the obtained molecules have been previously reported, hence their physical and spectroscopic data are correlated with the literature data [13,14,17]. It is important to note that ligand 1b (Figure 2) is a new molecule; consequently, the physical and spectroscopic information is incorporated in the manuscript.…”

“…The synthesis of hydroxymethilidene indanones (Scheme 1) was carried out based on a procedure previously reported by our research group [17]. o-phtalaldehyde was added to an ethanolic solution of sodium hydroxide (2.5 eq) with the corresponding acetophenone (1.0 eq).…”

“…Furthermore, due to their high chemical and thermal stability, hybrid films can be fabricated with these complexes. It has been found that these films have the potential to be used as active layers in the production of optoelectronic devices [13][14][15][16][17], however, the synthesis and semiconductor properties of ruthenium complexes with these indanones as ligands have not yet been.…”

“…Furthermore, due to their high chemical and thermal stability, hybrid films can be fabricated with these complexes. It has been found that these films have the potential to be used as active layers in the production of optoelectronic devices [13][14][15][16][17], however, the synthesis and semiconductor properties of ruthenium complexes with these indanones as ligands have not yet been. There are few reports on ruthenium compounds embedded in polymer matrices for the study of prolonged release of small molecules [18], chemical vapor deposition for the exploration of potential properties in materials [19], as well as their evaluation in non-linear optics applications [20].…”