Cyano-bridged mixed valence compounds have been known since 1704, but a lot of interest in the bi- and tri-nuclear species has emerged only more recently. The growing interest in these complexes reflects their promise as useful applications in electrochromism, molecular magnetism, and molecular electronics. These properties are activated by the excitation of their metal-to-metal charge transfer (MMCT) transition. We have studied aqueous solutions of the FeHEDTA/Fe(CN)64- system that form intensely colored solutions that absorb strongly in the Vis/NIR region. Typically 1:1 dimeric and 2:1 trimeric complexes are formed. We have used optical spectroscopy and electrochemistry to provide information on reorganizational parameters, electronic coupling between metal centers, molar absorptivities, equilibrium constants, and delocalization factors and have compared results obtained for the binuclear and trinuclear species to results of similar systems either previously studied in our lab or found in the literature.

Ce travail de thèse est une contribution au développement d’afficheurs électroluminescents inorganiques utilisant le luminophore CaTiO3 :Pr3+ comme couche active. Il comporte deux volets. Le premier concerne l’étude du dépôt de CaTiO3 :Pr3+ par pulvérisation cathodique à partir d’une cible céramique élaborée au laboratoire et s’est plus particulièrement attaché à l’influence de la pression de dépôt et aux conditions de recuit (température, type de fours) sur les propriétés morphologiques, structurales, optiques et électriques des films. Les films obtenus sont cristallisés en structure orthorhombique, photoluminescents, transparents sur toute la gamme du visible et possèdent des propriétés électriques compatibles avec l’application visée. Des pistes d’optimisation de ces propriétés sont également avancées. Le second volet du travail utilise le modèle de transfert de charge par intervalence (TCIV) développé ces dernières années au laboratoire, pour orienter la recherche d’autres luminophores dopés par des ions Pr3+ utilisables dans des afficheurs électroluminescents. Sur cette base, des titanates de formulations (Ca,Sr)TiO3 :Pr3+, CaTiO3 :Bi3+ ;Pr3+ et Na1/2Ln1/2TiO3 :Pr3+ (Ln = La, Gd, Y, Lu) ont été synthétisés et caractérisés. L’évaluation détaillée du comportement de ces matériaux en photoluminescence a permis de valider le modèle TCIV, d’initier d’autres modèles et de mettre en évidence l’intérêt d’un codopage au bismuth pour accroître l’intensité de fluorescence de l’ion Pr3+ dans la matrice CaTiO3. Le luminophore rouge CaTiO3 :Bi3+ ; Pr3+ apparaît être un candidat intéressant pour des applications en électroluminescence. / This work reports on the pre-development of inorganic electroluminescent devices based on luminescent CaTiO3 :Pr3+ thin films. It includes two parts. The first part is dedicated to the deposition of CaTiO3: Pr3 + films by sputtering of a home-made target and post-treated for their crystallization. Influence of gas pressure during deposition and post-treatment conditions (temperature, oven…) on the morphology, structure, optical and electrical properties of the films was investigated. Finally, the possibility to obtain films crystallized in the orthorhombic phase, photoluminescent, transparent in the whole visible range and with electrical properties needed for the aimed application, was demonstrated. Conditions for further optimization are also given. The second part of the work aims to use the Intervalence Charge Transfer (IVCT) model that has been recently elaborated in the laboratory, as a tool for the design of new Pr3+-doped phosphors that could be integrated in electroluminescent devices. On this basis, the titanates (Ca,Sr)TiO3 :Pr3+, CaTiO3 :Bi3+ ;Pr3+ and Na1/2Ln1/2TiO3 :Pr3+ (Ln = La, Gd, Y, Lu) were prepared and characterized. The detailed analysis of the photoluminescence behaviors confirmed the IVCT model and allowed to propose new models. Further, the role of Bi3+ codopant as a sensitizer of the Pr3+ luminescence in CaTiO3 is demonstrated and interpreted. The red phosphor CaTiO3 :Bi3+ ;Pr3+ appears as a possible interesting candidate for applications in electroluminescence.