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A simple procedure for the preparation of microcrystals of insoluble copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) by thermolysis of a dimethoxy-substituted precursor has been developed. Although the morphologies of the resultant microcrystals are practically independent from initial solution concentrations higher than ca. 0.03 mM of the dimethoxy-precursor, crystals with increased width are obtained with increasing the initial concentration of the precursor.

We fabricated copper phthalocyanine (CuPc)-based organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices via a solution process. CuPc was obtained through thermal conversion of its precursor CuPc(OMe) 2 , which has excellent solubility in various organic solvents, on a substrate. Solvent-dependent performance of the resulting devices was observed, which could be explained by considering film morphology. Using a 1:2 (wt/wt) mixture of chlorobenzene and chloroform produced a p–n type OPV device with a power conversion efficiency of 1.35% under 1 sun simulated AM1.5G solar illumination.

Copyright: 2010 Elsevier. This is an ABSTRACT ONLY. The definitive version is published in Electrochimica Acta, vol. 55(22), pp 6367-6375, doi:10.1016/j.electacta.2010.06.056

The integration of phenylamine-functionalised SWCNTs (SWCNT-phenylamine) with a novel cobalt (II) octa[(3,5-biscarboxylate)-phenoxy] phthalocyanine (CoOBPPc) complex has been described. The physical and electrochemical properties of the CoOBPPc-SWCNT-phenylamine hybrid were evaluated using spectroscopy (IR and UV–vis), field emission scanning electron microscopy and electrochemistry (cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy). Integration of SWCNT-phenylamine resulted in the physical transformation of the CoOBCPPc from the usually bluish colour of cobalt phthalocyanine complexes to a beautiful bright green colour. In addition, the heterogeneous electron transfer kinetics and electrocatalytic properties of the CoOBCPPc were greatly enhanced following the attachment of the SWCNT-phenylamine. The potential electrocatalytic application of the hybrid was tested using β-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) as a model biological analyte. Interestingly, the onset oxidation potential of this analyte was significantly reduced (300 mV) by this hybrid compared to the bare electrode.

Unexpected formation of seco-tribenzoporphyrazines from nickel- or palladium-template macrocyclization reaction of 1,3-diiminoisoindoline as a sole starting material has opened a novel access to this class of molecules. Seco-tribenzoporphyrazines exhibit strongly-split Q band absorption, basically typical of tetraazachlorin-like electronic structures, which are discussed in detail based on UV–Vis absorption and magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopies and theoretical calculations.

The first β-oxatetraazachlorin derivatives have been synthesized starting from phthalonitrile derivatives and 5,5-dimethyl-1,3-oxazolidine-2,4-dione instead of the previously employed tetramethylsuccinonitrile. Absorption and magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectral properties are similar to those obtained for the corresponding tetramethyl-substituted TAC derivatives, confirming the presence of the low-symmetry aromatic structures.

Free base and zinc 1,4,8,11,15,18,22,25-octa(p-methoxyphenyl) phthalocyanine have been synthesized. The Q-bands are located beyond 800 nm due to combined effects of red-shifts caused by ligand deformation and the electron-donating properties of the methoxy substituents. The phthalocyanines reported in this study could potentially replace naphthalocyanines as absorbers in the 800 nm region within practical applications.