Synthesis and photophysics of novel 8-hydroxyquinoline aluminum metal complex with 1,3,4-oxadiazole units

A novel luminescent metal complex, (OXHQ)3Al, with 8-hydroxyquinoline aluminum and electron-transporting 1,3,4-oxadiazole unit was designed and synthesized. The photophysical processes were investigated by UV–vis absorption and fluorescence emission spectra in diluent solution. The results showed that the luminescence quantum yield of (OXHQ)3Al was 0.67 in DMSO and it emitted blue light with the band gap of 3.13 eV estimated from the onset absorption. In addition, the light-emitting of (OXHQ)3Al can be quenched by electron acceptor (dimethylterephalate), where the processes followed the Stern–Volmer equation. However, with the addition of electron donor (N,N-dimethylaniline) fluorescent intensity of (OXHQ)3Al was increased and emission peak was lightly blue-shift. Furthermore, the molecular interactions of (OXHQ)3Al with fullerene (C60) or carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were also carefully investigated.