Synthesis, electron transport, and charge storage properties of fullerene–zinc porphyrin hybrid nanodiscs

Abstract

A donor (D)–acceptor (A) based system has been developed with the help of a newly synthesized Zn–porphyrin complex and C₆₀ fullerene. A series of spectroscopic methods, absorption spectroscopy (UV-Vis-NIR), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements, confirm the existence of a charge transfer based complex between Zn–porphyrin and C₆₀ fullerene. By using this D–A based system, circular disc-like nano objects have been generated. With the help of these nano objects, a diode has been fabricated. Current–voltage (I–V) and the capacitance–voltage (C–V) analyses of the diode were performed. The critical role of the Ag–C₆₀–Zn–porphyrin and C₆₀–Zn–porphyrin–SiO_x interfaces are clearly understood from the I–V characteristics of the present device. Existence of a hysteresis loop in the C–V plot indicates that the device is indeed suitable for charge storage applications.