With ever increasing concentrations of toxic gases in the lower atmosphere causing respiratory problems to human health, it is important to create sustainable, economical, sensitive, and selective gas sensors. Metallophthalocyanines (MPcs) are synthetic analogs of porphyrins and have numerous uses including inks and dye sensitized solar cells. The pi-pi bonding within the molecule and their simple synthesis make MPcs ideal candidates for gas sensors. Additionally, by exchanging metal centers and/or substituents within the MPc, their selectivity and sensitivity towards gases can be tuned. Hexadecafluoronated cobalt and iron phthalocyanines (CoPcF16 and FePcF16, respectively) have been well studied for gas sensing and are known to be economical, sensitive, and selective towards NO2 and ammonia. Manganese-12-acetate (Mn12) has inherent magnetic properties at low temperatures due to the high electronic spin component within the molecule. The combination of these two complexes into one composite material would allow for a gas sensing material with data storage capabilities. Herein, we report the synthesis and gas sensing capabilities of new thin films created from MPcs and molecules with interesting magnetic properties. This research shows the effects of increasing concentrations of the magnetic molecules within the MPcs thin films and compares the gas sensing results.

How does addition of manganese-12-acetate into metallophthalocyanine thin films affect their gas sensitivity?

ACS Spring 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.