An insight into the non-covalent interactions in the solid state structures of dinuclear cobalt(ii) complexes with N,O-donor ligands: application of the complexes in the fabrication of Schottky devices

Abstract

Two new dinuclear cobalt(II) complexes, [(H₂O)Co^IIL¹(μ-O₂CR¹)Co^II(NCS)] (1) and [(DMSO)Co^IIL²(μ-O₂CR²)Co^II(NCS)] (2) (H₂L¹ = (2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediyl)bis(iminomethylene)bis(6-methoxyphenol), H₂L² = (2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediyl)bis(iminomethylene)bis(6-ethoxyphenol), R¹CO₂H = 3-methyl-4-nitrobenzoic acid, and R²CO₂H = 4-methyl-3-nitrobenzoic acid), were synthesized using multidentate N,O-donor ligands with two pockets. Each complex was characterized using single crystal X-ray diffraction and spectral analysis. The noncovalent interactions were analyzed using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. In addition, the optical properties of the complexes were studied with a focus on the band gaps. Both complexes were utilized for the fabrication of semiconducting Schottky devices.