Copper(ii) and cobalt(iii) Schiff base complexes with hydroxy anchors as sensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs)

Two Schiff base complexes of copper(ii) and cobalt(iii) having the formulae [CuL₂] (Cu-Sal) and [CoL₃] (Co-Sal) (HL = 2-(((2-hydroxyethyl)imino)methyl)phenol) have been synthesized and characterized microanalytically, spectroscopically and in the case of Cu-Sal using single crystal X-ray diffraction technique. The single crystal X-ray analysis reveals a square planar geometry around Cu(ii) satisfied by phenoxide oxygen and imine nitrogen of the L^- ligand to generate a six membered chelate ring. The solid state structure of Cu-Sal is satisfied by varied intermolecular non-covalent interactions. The nature of these interactions has been addressed with the aid of Hirshfeld surface analysis. Both compounds have been used as sensitizers in TiO₂ based dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) and the DSSC experiments revealed that Co-Sal offers better photovoltaic performance in comparison to Cu-Sal. The Co-Sal exhibited a J _sc of 9.75 mA cm^-2 with a V _oc of -0.648 V, incident photon to current conversion efficiency (IPCE) of 57% and η of 3.84%. The relatively better photovoltaic performance of Co-Sal could be attributed to better light absorption and dye loading than that of Cu-Sal.

New di-n-butyltin(iv)-bis-(1-alkoxy-isoquinoline-4-nitrile thiolate): crystallographic and computational studies

Alcohol and n-Bu2Sn2+ assisted cyclization of dithiolate yielded two unexpected organotin(iv) products, their reaction mechanism and nature of weak interactions assessed.

Efficient photodegradation of dyes by a new 3D Cd(II) MOF with rare fsh topology

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) can be regarded as 3D coordination polymers that adopt ordered porous structures and possess abundant active sites, which make them promising photocatalysts for the degradation of organic...

A new 3D 8-connected Cd(ii) MOF as a potent photocatalyst for oxytetracycline antibiotic degradation

1 exhibits the best photocatalytic decomposition efficiency towards antibiotic OXY. The plausible photocatalytic mechanism has been explained with the help of the density of states calculations and Hirshfeld surface analysis.

Ferrocene decorated unusual mercury(ii) dithiocarbamate coordination polymers: crystallographic and computational studies

Three new ferrocene decorated 1D coordination polymers of Hg(ii) dithiocarbamates were synthesized and the nature of their weak interactions was addressed using computational techniques.

Syntheses of a series of lanthanide metal–organic frameworks for efficient UV-light-driven dye degradation: experiment and simulation

Three Ln-MOFs show unique 3,8-connected 3D networks and have been used as photocatalysts for the degradation of organic dye methyl violet under UV light.

Highly selective sensing of Fe3+/Hg2+ and proton conduction using two fluorescent Zn(ii) coordination polymers

A pair of homologues, [Zn(Hssa)(1,4-bib)·H2O]n (1) and [Zn3(ssa)2(1,4-bib)3·4H2O]n (2), were successfully assembled using the same metals and ligands [H3ssa = 5-sulfosalicylic acid; 1,4-bib = 1,4-bis(1H-imidazol-1-yl)benzene] under solvothermal conditions. Polymer 1 is a two-dimensional (2D) sql network and polymer 2 is a three-dimensional (3D) framework. Polymer 2 can be simplified into two topology types: bct and tfc. The two polymers show significant differences in the fluorescence sensing of metal ions and proton conductivity. Their applications in detecting metal ions and proton conductivity were explored. Polymer 1 shows high sensitivity and selectivity for Fe3+, while polymer 2 can detect Hg2+ ions. The limit of detection was 1.66 μM with Fe3+ for 1 and 0.23 μM with Hg2+ for 2 in water. In addition, both 1 and 2 exhibit high water stability and proton conductivity. At 60 °C and 95% relative humidity, their conductivities were 3.45 × 10-5 and 6.26 × 10-6 S cm-1, respectively. A detailed analysis of the Hirshfeld surface and fingerprints was carried out for 1 and 2 to compare the interactions between the molecules, which is essential for analysing the relationship between their structures and material properties.

Two Ln-based metal–organic frameworks based on the 5-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-1,3-benzenedicarboxylic acid ligand: syntheses, structures, and photocatalytic properties

Two new 3D Ln-based complexes showing (6,8)-connected topology were synthesized and the photocatalytic activity of the Sm(iii)-based MOF towards the degradation of methyl violet (MV) in water explored.