Cu/Zn phthalocyanine dyes with up to 40% solubility in propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate (PGMEA) for color filters.

Color filters play an important role in the quality of complementary metal–oxide–semiconductors and thin-film-transistor liquid-crystal displays. Although pigment nanoparticles have traditionally been used as color filter colorants, the use of molecular dyes for preparing high-quality color filters is an emerging strategy. However, few studies have investigated the relation between the structure of dyes and their color filter characteristics, such as solubility, and thermal stability and photostability. In this study, six phthalocyanine dyes with different branched substituents and central metals (zinc and copper) were developed. These dyes displayed high levels of solubility in propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate (up to 40.8 wt%), high light transmission, and satisfactory thermal stability and photostability, indicating their potential application in color filters. They may provide a way to explore more molecular dyes for color filters with excellent dissolution properties. [Display omitted] • Six novel phthalocyanines have been synthesized by a transesterification process. • The solubility of the phthalocyanines in PGMEA has been improved. • The phthalocyanines have excellent transmission, thermal and photostability under industrial conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]