Synthesis and photophysics of novel 8-hydroxyquinoline aluminum metal dye with hole transfer groups

A novel luminescent dye metal complex, (CZHQ)3Al, with 8-hydroxyquinoline aluminum and hole-transporting carbazole units was designed and synthesized. The (CZHQ)3Al optical properties were carefully investigated by UV–vis absorption and fluorescence spectra in diluent solution. The results showed that the luminescent quantum yield of (CZHQ)3Al was 0.62 in DMSO and it emitted red-light with the band gap of 2.89 eV estimated from the onset absorption. In addition, the light-emission of (CZHQ)3Al can be quenched by electron acceptor (dimethylterephalate), where the process followed the Stern–Volmer equation. However, the fluorescent intensities of (CZHQ)3Al were slowly increased with the addition of electron donor (N,N-dimethylaniline). Furthermore, the molecular interactions of (CZHQ)3Al with fullerene (C60) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were also respectively investigated, which indicated the metal dye can be used as new fluorescent probe.