Functional supramolecular metal-containing polymeric materials

Abstract

Structurally defined functional organic and inorganic polymeric materials prepared by self-assembly reactions usually display unprecedented electronic properties and hence have potential practical applications. We have found that intermolecular closed shell metal-metal interactions of d8 and d10 metal ions can be used to direct the growth of organometallic nanowires and polymeric metal-organic materials having chain-like structures. With judicious choice of auxiliary ligands, these self-assembled molecular materials display intriguing photoluminescent and semi-conducting properties. Our recent work revealed that nanowires with cyclometalated platinum(II) complexes as building units could be used in the fabrication of light-emitting organic thin-film transistors. Organometallic gold(I) nanowires and nanorods have been prepared by self-assembly reactions directed by intermolecular C-H×××p and p-p interactions. We also employ metal-ligand coordination to prepare polymeric organometallic materials with chain structures by self-assembly reactions. Homoleptic metal thiolates and metal arylacetylides having novel semi-conducting properties can be prepared by the reactions of metal salts with thiols and arylacetylenes under solvothermal conditions. These homoleptic metal thiolates and metal selenolates can be used as precursors for the synthesis of structurally defined binary metal chalcogenides by pyrolysis under mild reaction conditions.