Organic and Hybrid Diode Features of an n-Type 1,8-Naphthalimide Derivative

Abstract Organic–inorganic hybrid photodiodes have garnered research interest to achieve high-performance optoelectronic devices with longer lifetime. In the present study, a fluorescent 1,8-naphthalimide (NI) derivative BHSHNI was synthesized through bromination of 3-hydroxy naphthalic anhydride and subsequent imidation reaction with salicyloyl hydrazide. The IR, NMR and mass spectrometry studies confirmed the molecular structure of the NI derivative. Intramolecular charge transfer was confirmed using theoretical and fluorescence emission studies. Thermal investigations suggested good stability of BHSHNI and cyclic voltammetry indicated an electrochemical band gap of 1.10 eV. Surface uniformity and pit-free morphology was observed in SEM and AFM images of thin films formed by BHSHNI. The organic (PEDOT:PSS) and hybrid (organic–inorganic) p – n type diodes were successfully constructed using BHSHNI. The hybrid diode exhibited better features with ideality factors of 9.3 and 15.2 in dark and visible light, respectively, with a dielectric constant of 7.65 at 30 kHz. The calculated responsivity of the hybrid diode was found to be 66.26 $$\mu \mathrm{A}/\mathrm{W}$$ μ A / W . The device incorporating BHSHNI as functional material with NiO can be further explored for photodiode applications. Graphical Abstract