The electronic properties and stereochemistry of mono-nuclear complexes of the copper(II) ion

As a consequence of the non-spherical symmetry of the copper(II) ion, d9 configuration, and of the influence of the Jahn-Teller, and pseudo Jahn-Teller effect on six-coordinate geometries, the stereochemistries of the copper(II) ion are characterized by non-rigid geometries (fluxional behaviour), and ranges of distorted geometries (Plasticity Effect) The latter may be connected by a series of Structural Pathways, which may be characterised by an ‘Electronic Criterion of Stereochemistry’ for a related series of complexes, eg the [Cu(bipy)2X] [Y] complexes

A new look at the stereochemistry and electronic properties of complexes of the copper(II) ion

https://www.jbc.org/content/263/13/6074.full.pdf

The active site of galactose oxidase.

This study reports the development of copper(I) thiocyanate (CuSCN) hole-transport layers (HTLs) processed from aqueous ammonia as a novel alternative to conventional n-alkyl sulfide solvents. Wide bandgap (3.4–3.9 eV) and ultrathin (3–5 nm) layers of CuSCN are formed when the aqueous CuSCN–ammine complex solution is spin-cast in air and annealed at 100 °C. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirms the high compositional purity of the formed CuSCN layers, while the high-resolution valence band spectra agree with first-principles calculations. Study of the hole-transport properties using field-effect transistor measurements reveals that the aqueous-processed CuSCN layers exhibit a fivefold higher hole mobility than films processed from diethyl sulfide solutions with the maximum values approaching 0.1 cm2 V−1 s−1. A further interesting characteristic is the low surface roughness of the resulting CuSCN layers, which in the case of solar cells helps to planarize the indium tin oxide anode. Organic bulk heterojunction and planar organometal halide perovskite solar cells based on aqueous-processed CuSCN HTLs yield power conversion efficiency of 10.7% and 17.5%, respectively. Importantly, aqueous-processed CuSCN-based cells consistently outperform devices based on poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate HTLs. This is the first report on CuSCN films and devices processed via an aqueous-based synthetic route that is compatible with high-throughput manufacturing and paves the way for further developments.

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Copper(I) Thiocyanate (CuSCN) Hole-Transport Layers Processed from Aqueous Precursor Solutions and Their Application in Thin-Film Transistors and Highly Efficient Organic and Organometal Halide Perovskite Solar Cells

A.A.G. Tomlinson

Papers

Copper(II) ammonia complexes