Synthesis of New Cobalt(III) Meso-Porphyrin Complex, Photochemical, X-ray Diffraction, and Electrical Properties for Photovoltaic Cells

The present work describes the preparation and characterization of a new cobalt(III) porphyrin coordination compound named (chlorido)(nicotinoylchloride)[meso-tetra(para-chlorophenyl)porphyrinato]cobalt(III) dichloromethane monosolvate with the formula [Co(III)(TClPP)Cl(NTC)]·CH(2)Cl(2) (4). The single-crystal X-ray molecular structure of 4 shows very important ruffling and waving distortions of the porphyrin macrocycle. The Soret and Q absorption bands of 4 are very red-shifted as a consequence of the very distorted porphyrin core. This coordination compound was also studied by fluorescence and cyclic voltammetry. The efficiency of our four porphyrinic compounds—the H(2)TClPP (1) free-base porphyrin, the [Co(II)(TClPP)] (2) and [Co(III)(TClPP)Cl] (3) starting materials, and the new Co(III) metalloporphyrin [Co(III)(TClPP)Cl(NTC)]·CH(2)Cl(2) (4)—as catalysts in the photochemical degradation was tested on malachite green (MG) dye. The current voltage of complexes 3 and 4 was also studied. Electrical parameters, including the saturation current density (J(s)) and barrier height (ϕ(b)), were measured.