Near-infrared electrochromism of multilayer films of a cyclometalated diruthenium complex prepared by layer-by-layer deposition on metal oxide substrates

Zhi Juan Li, Chang Jiang Yao, Yu Wu Zhong*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

26 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

A cyclometalated diruthenium complex 2 bridged by 1,2,4,5-tetra(pyrid-2-yl)benzene with six carboxylic acid groups at two ends was synthesized. Monolayer and multilayer films FTO/TiO2/(2)n(Zr) (n=1,2) and FTO/SnO2:Sb/(2)n(Zr) (n=1–4) have been prepared via interfacial layer-by-layer coordination assembly of 2 with zirconium(IV) ions. All films show two consecutive redox couples in the potential range between 0 and +1.0 V vs. Ag/AgCl. These films exhibit reversible near-infrared electrochromism upon switching of redox potential. The response time of the films on SnO2:Sb is around a few seconds, while that on TiO2 is around a few tens of seconds. The film deposition cycles were found to have a great impact on the electrochromic performance. Among six films examined, the two-layered film on SnO2:Sb displays the best balanced performance with a contrast ratio of 56% at 1,150 nm and good cyclic stability (9% loss of contrast ratio after 1,000 continuous double-potential-switching cycles), which is superior to that of the previously reported electropolymerized films of a related diruthenium complex with the same bridging ligand. In addition, the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and electron transfer mechanism of these films have been investigated.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1675-1685
Number of pages11
JournalScience China Chemistry
Volume62
Issue number12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2019
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • diruthenium complexes
  • electrochromism
  • layer-by-layer assembly
  • metal oxides
  • multilayer films

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