First example of a near-IR photodetector based on neutral [M(R-dmet)2] bis(1,2-dithiolene) metal complexes

We report on the first example of a light signal photodetecting device based on the new class of neutral bis(1,2-dithiolene) complexes [M(R-dmet)2], whose ligand is intermediate between those belonging to the classes dmit2− and R,R′-timdt2− (dmit2− = 2-thioxo-1,3-dithiole-4,5-dithiolato; R,R′-timdt2− = N,N′-disubstituted 2-thioxoimidazoline-4,5-dithiolato; R-dmet2− = N-substituted 2-thioxothiazoline-4,5-dithiolato). The device, hosting the active material [Ni(Et-dmet)2] (1) casted on a quartz substrate, acts as a photodetector responsive in a wide spectral range, reaching the appealing near-IR region, and features the highest efficiency values as compared to those based on the dithiolene complexes [Ni(Me,Non-timdt)2] (2) and [Pt(Et,Pent-timdt)2] (3).