Enhancing Optical and Electrical Properties of Acetophenone Azo Anthrone Dye Thin Films T hrough Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complex

An effective synthetic approach of the Acetophenone Azo Anthrone Dye (4AAP-ANT) was achieved by modifying the dye through its incorporation into the cavity of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD), forming a 4AAP-ANT/β-CD inclusion complex. The structural features of the dye and its inclusion complex were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. Additionally, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) was employed to evaluate the thermal stability of the synthesized materials. Thin films of 4AAP-ANT and its inclusion complex were prepared via spin coating, and their nanostructural properties were confirmed by XRD patterns and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Optical properties such as the band gap, optical constants, dispersion, dielectric characteristics, and optical conductivity \(\:\sigma \:_{{{\text{opt}}\:}}\)  were examined over the 200–2500 nm wavelength range based on absorbance, transmittance, and reflectance measurements under normal incidence light. Nonlinear optical properties were also assessed. The electrical conductivity of both 4AAP-ANT and its β-CD complex increased with temperature, indicating typical semiconductor behavior. These results suggest that the 4AAP-ANT/β-CD complex has significant potential as an organic semiconductor, with promising applications in organic optoelectronics such as organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) and organic solar cells (OSCs).