Photophysical and photoelectric properties of phthalocyanine-based MOF thin films

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Stefan Bräse; Professor Dr. Thomas Heine; Professor Dr. Christof Wöll
• Subject Area: Solid State and Surface Chemistry, Material Synthesis ; Organic Molecular Chemistry - Synthesis and Characterisation
• Term: since 2016
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 316868143

The overarching goal of the project proposed for the second funding period of the SPP is the fabrication of chromophore-based, crystalline and oriented MOF thin films (SURMOFs) on conducting and/or transparent substrates. Besides porphyrins (PPs), we will study phthalocyanines (PCs) and porphyrazines (PYs), both absorbing at longer wavelengths and hence nicely complementary to the PPs, which were successfully studied during the previous funding period. The monolithic SURMOF coatings will be characterized using photophysical and electrochemical methods. In selected cases, these films will be integrated in devices for specific applications, e.g. for photovoltaics. This work will complement the successful project on PP-based SURMOFs active during the first funding period and will exploit the higher stability of PCs and PYs for device fabrication, in particular in the area of photovoltaics and photo-electrochemistry. Our experience gained with the theoretical description of PP-based SURMOF photophysical properties during the previous funding period will be used to screen a large number of PCs and PYs in silico. This step is mandatory, since the synthesis of PCs and PYs is much more challenging as in case of the PPs. Only the most promising PC and PY candidates will then be synthesized and used to fabricate SURMOFs. Moreover, the layer-by-layer SURMOF growth process allows the hierarchical growth of SURMOFs carrying dyes of different absorption range. Consecutive stacking of PPs, PCs and PYs with absorption in increasing wavelength ranges will allow the design of photovoltaic devices with covering the entire solar spectrum, ranging from ultraviolet to infrared.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 1928: Coordination Networks: Building Blocks for Functional Systems
• International Connection: Ireland
• Cooperation Partner: Professor Dr. Mathias O. Senge