DFT-based study of the impact of transition metal coordination on the charge transport and nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of 2-{[5-(4-nitrophenyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-ylimino]methyl}phenol

Theoretical investigations of the impact of transition metal chelation on the electron/hole-transport and nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of 2-{5-(4-nitrophenyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-ylimino]methyl}phenol (L) are reported herein. Calculations were carried out via density functional theory (DFT)-based methods, employing exchange–correlation functionals and basis sets of different qualities. Results have shown that free L is a moderate electron/hole-transporter, but that its Pd(II) and Pt(II) complexes are excellent hole- and electron-transport materials respectively, owing to their very small reorganisation energies and relatively large electronic coupling matrix elements or transfer integrals. These results indicate that the complexes are potentially suitable charge transport materials for the construction of organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs). Nevertheless, the results also revealed a higher NLO activity for L than its metal complexes. Interestingly, the first and second hyperpolarizabilities, along with some computed NLO properties of both L and its complexes are found to be remarkably higher than those of the prototypical push–pull molecule, para-nitroaniline. Accordingly, these compounds are potential candidates for the fabrication of optoelectronic and photonic devices for second- and third-order NLO applications. Summarily, metal chelation is found to enhance the charge transport properties in some cases, and to slightly diminish NLO response of L in all cases investigated.