Preparation of hybrid devices containing nylon/M(II)Pc-TTF (M=Cu, Zn) films with potential optical and electrical applications

Hybrid devices consisting of metallophthalocyanines, MPcs (M=Zn, Cu), doped with a Tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) derivative and dispersed in nylon 11 have been prepared by using a thermal evaporation technique. The effects of thermal relaxation on the structure and morphology of the samples were studied by FT-IR spectroscopy, SEM and X-ray diffraction. The thermal relaxation in nylon 11 produced a crystalline arrangement in the α- and β-form MPc molecules. Changes in conductivity of the devices suggest the formation of alternative paths for carrier conduction. It was found that the temperature-dependent electric current in Zn devices showed a semiconductor behavior. Finally, the optical direct and indirect band gap of these hybrid devices was evaluated from optical absorption measurements. The band gap values were found to decrease from 3.7 to 1.38 eV (for the ZnPc device), and from 1.9 to 1.1 eV (for the CuPc device), with the addition of TTF in the polymeric matrix. [Figure not available: see fulltext.]