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.