Organic-Acid-Mediated Luminescent Supramolecular Tb(III)-metallogel Applied in an Efficient Photosensitive Electronic Device with Excellent Charge Transport Properties
Subhendu Dhibar, Arka Dey, Santanu Majumdar, Amiya Dey, Partha Pratim Ray, Biswajit Dey
Abstract
An intriguing functional supramolecular Tb(III)-metallogel (Tb-OX) is derived through the sonication of terbium(III) chloride hexahydrate and oxalic acid dihydrate in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) solvent under ambient conditions. A rheological investigation proves the mechanical stability of the supramolecular Tb-OX metallogel. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) microstructural analysis unveils the rocklike morphological pattern of the Tb-OX metallogel having a supramolecular network. Metallogel synthesis, crystallinity, and thermal behavior of Tb-OX are evaluated with the help of IR spectroscopic investigations, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Exhaustive investigations and analyses of the optical and electrical parameters of Tb-OX establish the semiconducting properties of the Tb-OX metallogel. Based on its conducting properties, the Tb(III)-metallogel is successfully applied to a metal–semiconductor junction-based photosensitive Schottky barrier diode device with excellent charge transport properties.