Spectra and Photoconduction of Phthalocyanine Complexes (I)

Abstract

Reflection spectra of Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, and metal-free phthalocyanines have been measured. The Davydov splitting of the main absorption peak in the metal compounds correlates with the relative tendencies of the metals to out-of-plane bonding. Photoconduction response curves have been measured between 1500 and 300 mμ for single crystals of these compounds. Besides a high response following the crystal absorption, metal-free Ni and Cu phthalocyanines also had considerable photosensitivity in the near infrared, peaking at 900–1100 mμ. The effect on the short-wavelength photoconduction of measuring in vacuo instead of in air also correlates with the ability of the metals to bond out-of-plane groups.