A study of structural effects on linear and nonlinear response of bicompartmental Ni (II) Schiff base complexes

Herein we investigate imaginary third order NLO activity, optical limiting capability and first hyperpolarizabilities of five Ni (II) salen complexes using experimental and theoretical methods. The complexes are tuned to have different NLO response by changing mainly the diimine spacer group. Out of the compounds reported, the one with o‐phenylene spacer group exhibits the highest NLO activity comparable with that of polymers and semiconductors which is followed by the compound with ethylene spacer unit. The order of activity is a direct function of the degree of π‐delocalization. Further all the tested compounds returned outstanding optical limiting capabilities making them excellent materials for fabrication of such devices. The experimental results were substantiated with frontier orbital calculations carried out using DFT at M06/6‐31G* level of theory and complex with aromatic spacer group exhibits least energy gap and highest activity. The total dipole moment, polarizability and first hyperpolarizability were also calculated at the same level of theory which are also in line with the experimentally observed results. Five Ni (II) salen type complexes has been synthesized and exhibits excellent third order NLO activity dictated by the nature diimino spacer group used confirmed from both experimental and theoretical methods. The complexes are potential candidates for device fabrication as they display outstanding optical limiting properties.