Synthesis, Structural Characterisation, and Spectroscopic Properties of Copper(I) Complexes and their Applications to Dye-Sensitised Solar Cells

Abstract

Based on the ligand 1,4-bis(2-(diphenylphophino)benzylideneamino)benzene (pbb), two complexes, [Cu 2 (pbb)(2,2 0bipyridine) 2 ](BF 4 ) 2 (1) and [Cu 2 (pbb)(phen) 2 ](BF 4 ) 2 (2), have been prepared and characterised by IR, 1 H NMR, 31 P NMR, 19 F NMR, and 11 B NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystal structure analysis. Structural analysis reveals that complexes 1 and 2 contain 1D infinite chains and 2D supramolecular networks constructed by C-HÁÁÁp and pÁÁÁp interactions, and an ordered-layer-lattice of BF 4 À is located between these 2D networks. The results show that C-HÁÁÁp and pÁÁÁp interactions play an important role in the formation of 2D supramolecular networks. The UV-vis absorption peaks of complexes 1 and 2 display intraligand charge transfer and metal to ligand charge transfer (MLCT) absorption. Complexes 1 and 2 display efficient luminescent emission assigned to MLCT excited states, and the maximum emissions of these complexes in acetonitrile solution are different from those of the solid-state samples. In addition, complexes 1 and 2 have been exploited as sensitisers in dye-sensitised solar cells, and efficiencies are also observed.

Photoactive Copper Complexes: Properties and Applications

“…In this context, two studies were reported in 2015 by the Huang group, using tetracoordinating ligands to access dinuclear copper complexes. In their first publication, the authors described the use of the PNNP 7 ligand in combination with two bipyridine ( NN 261 ) or phenanthroline ( NN 1 ) ligands to obtain two novel dinuclear complexes (entries 31 and 32 in Table ). Despite their ligands possessing no anchoring groups and no intense absorption band in the visible region, the authors attempted the sensitization of a TiO 2 electrode with their newly synthesized complexes, with poor success however.…”