Semiconducting polymers based on tetraizoindole

Abstract The growing interest in the production of electronic devices are able to detect very small amounts of cellular second-messengers as NO or for monitoring gases as NO 2 , O 2 , CO 2 , Cl 2 or other toxic gases. The metal-complex tetraizoindoles (metal phthalocyanines, MePcs) were previously shown as potential sensor materials for nitrogen oxide-sensing devices. The synthesis of nickel phthalocyanines (NiPcs), copper polyphthalocyanines (CuPcs) and aliphatic amines-condensed CuPc derivatives are described. Three new aliphatic amine-condensed CuPc derivatives as n-type organic semiconductors were obtained using an original technique conventionally used for aromatic derivatives synthesis. NiPc and aliphatic amine-substituted CuPc derivatives were deposited onto glass substrates by a high-vacuum thermal evaporation technique. Microscopic studies (interference) show that thin films of vapor-deposited MePcs had a thickness of 89–220 nm. The optical properties of MePc thin films have been examined by UV–Vis and IR spectrometry and the effect of NO x upon optical properties is in course. The sensor could be prepared by deposition of MePc thin films on a substrate with IPID (in-plane interdigitated) electrodes for the detection of NO 2 . The final goal of this paper was to extend both the knowledge on the synthesis of organic metal-complex tetraizoindoles and their potential use as semiconductors in NO x sensing devices.