Hybrid metalorganic-inorganic systems through a combined MOCVD/MLD approach

The organic-inorganic hybrid systems have attracted great attention because of their potential applications in several fields such as optoelectronic devices, heterogeneous catalysis, sensors and dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) [1]. In this perspective, transition metal oxides have received great attention, because they offer a wide spectrum of electrical, optical and magnetic properties. In addition anchoring of appropriate molecular systems on the metal oxide surface allows the development of multifunctional materials, due to the combination of the molecular and oxide functionalities [2]. Nickel oxide has been chosen as the inorganic component of the hybrid system due to its multifunctional appealing properties such as electrochromic and antiferromagnetic properties, high dielectric constant, low resistivity, transparency and p-type semiconducting behavior. These properties make NiO an excellent candidate for organic light-emitting diodes (OLED), tandem photocathodes for DSSC, smart windows, and chemical sensors. In regard to the molecular moiety, the attention has been devoted to luminescent lanthanide complexes. In particular, Eu(III) complexes display exceptional photophysical properties such as high quantum yields, long excited-state lifetimes, large Stokes shifts and sharp emission profiles related to f–f electronic transitions.