Hikmat Banimuslem

Distribution of single-walled carbon nanotubes in pyrene containing liquid crystalline asymmetric zinc phthalocyanine matrix

A novel pyrene containing asymmetric Zn(II) phthalocyanine (AB3 type) was synthesized and characterized by various spectroscopic techniques as well as elemental analysis. A symmetric polyoxyethylene substituted Zn(II) phthalocyanine (B4 type) derivative was also prepared in order to compare the properties and determine the effect of the pyrene group on the phthalocyanine molecule. Composites of synthesized zinc(II) phthalocyanine-single wall carbon nanotubes (ZnPc-SWCNTs) containing 1 and 2 wt% carbon nanotubes were prepared by mixing these two components in dichloromethane followed by removal of the solvent and drying under vacuum. The liquid crystalline properties of the pure compounds and their composites were investigated in comparison with symmetric polyoxyethylene substituted Zn(II) phthalocyanine (B4 type) by using polarized optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction analysis. The distribution of the SWCNTs in the ordered matrix of the columnar mesophase of these derivatives was studied by the method of polarized Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It was shown that the nature of the mesophases was not altered in these composites. The I(V) dependencies for the films deposited onto interdigitated electrodes were measured and it was shown that the lateral conductivity tends to increase with increasing SWCNT concentration.

Liquid crystalline octasubstituted lead(II) phthalocyanines: effects of alkoxy and alkylthio substituents on film alignment and electrical properties

Octasubstituted lead(II) phthalocyanines containing alkylthio- and alkoxy- groups in peripheral positions have been synthesized and characterized using 1H and 13C NMR, UV-Vis, IR and mass spectroscopies as well as elemental analysis. The mesogenic properties of the octasubstituted lead(II) phthalocyanines have been investigated by differential scanning calorimetry, polarizing optical microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The sandwich structures ITO/PbPc/In were prepared to investigate the J(V) characteristics of thin films of these molecules. The dissimilar behavior of the films before and after heat-treatment is expected to result in changing the alignment inside the columnar stacking of the molecules in the films.

Formation of ordered films of axially bridged aluminum phthalocyanine [(tBu)4PcAl]2O via magnetic field-induced reaction

The μ-(oxo)bis[tetra-tert-butylphthalocyaninato] aluminum(III) [(tBu)4PcAl]2O films with the crystallites oriented preferably in one direction were obtained via chemical transformation of tetra-tert-butylsubstituted chloroaluminum(III) phthalocyanine (tBu)4PcAlCl film upon its annealing in magnetic field. A comparative analysis of the influence of post-deposition annealing process without and under applied magnetic field of 1 T, on the orientation and morphology of (tBu)4PcAlCl and [(tBu)4PcAl]2O films, has been carried out by the methods of UV-vis, Infrared and Raman spectroscopies, XRD as well as atomic force microscopy. The formation of [(tBu)4PcAl]2O films with elongated crystallites having preferential orientation was observed upon heating of the films in magnetic field while annealing without magnetic field under the same conditions does not demonstrate any effect on the structure and morphology of these films. The reasons of the sensitivity of this reaction to the presence of such magnetic field is discussed and studied by electronic paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Copper Phthalocyanine Functionalized Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes: Thin Film Deposition and Sensing Properties

Thin films of non-covalently hybridised single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) and tetra-substituted copper phthalocyanine (CuPcR4) molecules have been produced. The π-π interaction between SWCNTs and CuPcR4 molecules has been revealed by using different characterisation techniques. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) measurements have shown that films obtained from the acid-treated SWCNTs/CuPcR4 hybrids demonstrated more homogenous surface. Using total internal reflection ellipsometry spectroscopy (TIRE), thin films of the new hybrid have been examined as an optical sensing membrane for the detection of benzo [pyrene in water to demonstrate the sensing properties of the hybrid.