Dual optical and biological functionalities of the bismuth-based metal halide semiconductor (C8H12N)4Bi2Cl10
Chaima Jridi, Sameh Sellami, Nour Elleuch, Jérôme Lhoste, Mohamed Boujelbene
Abstract
This report investigates the optical properties of the hybrid compound (C 8 H 12 N) 4 Bi 2 Cl 10 , synthesized via slow evaporation at room temperature, utilizing UV–Visible spectroscopy within the wavelength range of 200–1100 nm. The UV–Vis measurements reveal an indirect and wide optical bandgap, determined to be (2.98 ± 0.005) eV and (3.28 ± 0.005) eV through absorbance and reflectance analyses, respectively. Furthermore, the estimated Urbach energy of (359meV) indicates that the system exhibits a high level of disorder. The study explores the relationship of optical constants, focusing on the extinction coefficient (k), which offers insight into the efficiency of a material's light absorption. The skin depth analysis indicates the material's ability to reduce UV radiation, suggesting it could serve as an effective barrier against ultraviolet exposure. The refractive index was estimated to be approximately 20.45 in the visible domain. Additionally, the compound's antibacterial properties were extensively evaluated, demonstrating significant inhibitory effects against all tested bacterial strains. This study emphasizes the unique optical and antibacterial properties of the hybrid compound, opening new avenues for future research into its potential applications in optoelectronics, UV-protective materials, and antibacterial coatings.