Electropolymerized Highly Photoconductive Thin Films of Cyclopalladated and Cycloplatinated Complexes

The complete characterization of novel electropolymerizable organometallic complexes is presented. These are newly synthesized cyclometalated complexes of general formula (PPy)­M­(O∧N)n (H­(PPy) = 2-phenylpyridine, M = Pd­(II) or Pt­(II), H­(O∧N)n = Schiff base). Polymeric thin films have been obtained from these complexes by electropolymerization of the triphenylamino group grafted onto the H­(O∧N)n ancillary ligand. The redox behavior and the photoconductivity of both of the monomers (PPy)­M­(O∧N)n and the electropolymerized species have been investigated. The polymeric films of (PPy)­M­(O∧N)n have shown a very significant enhancement of photoconductivity when compared to their monomeric amorphous counterparts. The high stability of the obtained films strongly suggests that electropolymerization of cyclometalated complexes represents a viable deposition technique of quality thin films with improved photoconduction properties, hence opening the door to a new class of materials with suitable properties for optoelectronic applications.