Highly efficient organic ultraviolet photodetectors based on excellent Cu (I) complexes

Abstract

We demonstrate high response organic ultraviolet photodetectors using 4,4′,4″-tris[3-methyl-pheny(phenyl)amino]tri-phenylamine (m-MTDATA) and two novel Cu(I) complexes, [Cu(DPEphos)(PyPhen)]BF4 (CuDP)(DPEphos = Bis [2-(diphenylphosphino)phenyl]ether, PyPhen = pyrazino[2,3-f][1,10]phenanthroline) and [Cu(DPEbenz)(PyPhen)]BF4 (CuBP) (DPEbenz = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)benzene) to act as the electron donor and acceptor, respectively. Strong photoluminescence quenching of m-MTDATA by Cu(I) complexes is observed manifesting the efficient photoinduced charge transfer that occurs between m-MTDATA and Cu(I) complexes. The optimized photodetector based on CuBP exhibits a maximum response of 276 mA/W at −12 V under an illumination of 365 nm UV light irradiation with an intensity of 1.75 mW/cm2. The high response is attributed to feasible energy level match, efficient electron transfer from m-MTDATA to CuBP and skillful device design. More detailed working mechanism of harvesting high performance is also discussed.