Fluorescence properties of phenol-modified zinc phthalocyanine that tuned by photoinduced intra-molecular electron transfer and pH values

Triphenylamine substituted copper and zinc phthalocyanines as alternative hole-transporting materials for solution-processed perovskite solar cells

In the present study, new peripheral substituted Zn(II) and Cu(II) phthalocyanine derivatives (p-ZnPc and p-CuPc) bearing bulky aromatic triphenylamine groups were synthesized as alternative hole-transporting materials (HTMs). The structures of the new phthalocyanine derivatives (p-ZnPc and p-CuPc) were illuminated by various spectroscopic techniques such as mass spectrometry and ¹H, and ¹³C-NMR. After structural analysis, their photophysical properties in solution and the solid phase were examined by UV-Vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. Using p-ZnPc and p-CuPc as HTMs, highly stable perovskite-based solar cells with the structure of FTO/SnO₂/perovskite/p-ZnPc and p-CuPc/Ag have been developed and characterized. It was observed that our devices with p-ZnPc as the HTM maintain over 93% of the initial performance for more than 960 h under atmospheric conditions (22-27 °C) with 35-45% relative humidity. In addition, some strategies such as using various methylammonium iodide (MAI) and lead iodide (PbI₂) blend ratios between 1 : 0.4 and 1 : 1.8 were employed to test the effect of the blend ratios on the long term stability of the perovskite-based solar cells. Our findings demonstrated that the spin-coated p-ZnPc based HTM demonstrated competitive power conversion efficiency and exhibited superior stability without encapsulation compared to commonly used HTMs.

Novel axially symmetric and unsymmetric silicon(IV) phthalocyanines having anti-inflammatory groups: synthesis, characterization and their biological properties

New asymmetric Si(IV)Pc (1), monomeloxicammonotriethyleneglycolmonomethylether (phthalocyaninano)silicone, axially ligated with meloxicam as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), or triethylene glycol monomethyl ether and symmetric Si(IV)Pc (2), diclofenac(phthalocyaninano)silicone, axially ligated with two diclofenac as NSAID, were synthesized and characterized as antioxidant and antimicrobial agents together with polyoxo-SiPc (3), ditriethyleneglycolmonomethylether(phthalocyaninano)silicone, and SiPc(OH)₂ (4), dihydroxy(phthalocyaninano)silicone. The photophysical and photochemical properties of these compounds were investigated. Then, antioxidant assays, including 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferrous ion chelating activities, were performed for these Si(IV) phthalocyanine derivatives (1, 2, 3 and 4). The highest DPPH scavenging activity of 73.48% was achieved with compound 2 and the highest ferrous chelating ability of 66.42% was obtained with compound 3. The results of the antioxidant assays indicated that Pc derivatives 1, 2 and 3 have remarkable superoxide radical scavenging activities, and moderate 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl activities and metal chelating activities. The antimicrobial effects of the Si(IV) phthalocyanine compounds were studied against six pathogenic bacteria and two pathogenic microfungi. The results for the antimicrobial activity of these compounds indicated that Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212) was the most sensitive microorganism and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853) and Legionella pneumophila subsp. pneumophila (ATCC 33152) were the most resistant microorganisms against the tested compounds. The DNA cleavage ability and microbial cell viability of these compounds were studied. The studied compounds demonstrated excellent DNA nuclease activity and exhibited 100% cell viability inhibition at 500 mg L^-1. Also, the antimicrobial photodynamic therapy of the compounds was tested against Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922) and significant photodynamic antimicrobial activity was observed. In addition, the effect of phthalocyanines on biofilm inhibition produced by Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923) was also tested and 3 showed excellent biofilm inhibition of 82.14%.

Novel axially-substituted silicon phthalocyanines with pH-modulated fluorescence ON/OFF switching properties

Two novel axially-substituted asymmetric silicon (IV) phthalocyanines, the first one substituted with both polyethylene glycol and indomethacin groups (Pc1) and second one substituted with both polyethylene glycol and mefenamic acid groups (Pc2) have been designed and synthesized for the purpose of pH sensing examinations. Their absorption and fluorescence emission-based spectral properties were investigated in chloroform, tetrahydrofuran and toluene. The pH-sensing properties of Pc1 and Pc2 were examined in detail by using UV-vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopies in tetrahydrofuran. The effects of the substituents on the spectroscopic properties and pH-sensing behavior of these silicon phthalocyanines were revealed. Pc1 didn’t show a pH response; however, Pc2 exhibited a signal increase from pH 5.40 to 0.37 (turn on) and a drastic quenching when pH went from 0.37 to 5.40 (turn off). The protonation/deprotonation stage of the NH group of Pc2 presented fluorescence-based “on-off” type molecular switch properties.

Magnesium tetrapyrazinoporphyrazines: tuning of the pKa of red-fluorescent pH indicators

Fluorescence of Mg(ii) complexes of tetrapyrazinoporphyrazines can be switched off and on depending on pH.

Photoinduced Electron Transfer-based Halogen-free Photosensitizers: Covalent meso-Aryl (Phenyl, Naphthyl, Anthryl, and Pyrenyl) as Electron Donors to Effectively Induce the Formation of the Excited Triplet State and Singlet Oxygen for BODIPY Compounds

Pristine BODIPY compounds have negligible efficiency to generate the excited triplet state and singlet oxygen. In this report, we show that attaching a good electron donor to the BODIPY core can lead to singlet oxygen formation with up to 58 % quantum efficiency. For this purpose, BODIPYs with meso-aryl groups (phenyl, naphthyl, anthryl, and pyrenyl) were synthesized and characterized. The fluorescence, excited triplet state, and singlet oxygen formation properties for these compounds were measured in various solvents by UV/Vis absorption, steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence methods, as well as laser flash photolysis technique. In particular, the presence of anthryl and pyrenyl showed substantial enhancement on the singlet oxygen formation ability of BODIPY with up to 58 % and 34 % quantum efficiency, respectively, owing to their stronger electron-donating ability. Upon the increase in singlet oxygen formation, the fluorescence quantum yield and lifetime values of the aryl-BODIPY showed a concomitant decrease. The increase in solvent polarity enhances the singlet oxygen generation but decreases the fluorescence quantum yield. The results are explained by the presence of intramolecular photoinduced electron transfer from the aryl moiety to BODIPY core. This method of promoting T₁ formation is very different from the traditional heavy atom effect by I, Br, or transition metal atoms. This type of novel photosensitizers may find important applications in organic oxygenation reactions and photodynamic therapy of tumors.

Controllable Photodynamic Therapy Implemented by Regulating Singlet Oxygen Efficiency

With singlet oxygen (1O2) as the active agent, photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising technique for the treatment of various tumors and cancers. But it is hampered by the poor selectivity of most traditional photosensitizers (PS). In this review, we present a summary of controllable PDT implemented by regulating singlet oxygen efficiency. Herein, various controllable PDT strategies based on different initiating conditions (such as pH, light, H2O2 and so on) have been summarized and introduced. More importantly, the action mechanisms of controllable PDT strategies, such as photoinduced electron transfer (PET), fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) and some physical/chemical means (e.g. captivity and release), are described as a key point in the article. This review provide a general overview of designing novel PS or strategies for effective and controllable PDT.

Ethylenediamine-modified graphene oxide covalently functionalized with a tetracarboxylic Zn(ii) phthalocyanine hybrid for enhanced nonlinear optical properties

Tetracarboxylic Zn(ii) phthalocyanine-amino functionalized graphene oxide (ZnPcC4-NGO) hybrid materials have been prepared by a covalent functionalization method. The characterizations indicate that the amino-functionalization of GO has an important influence on the structure and photophysical properties of the ZnPcC4-NGO hybrid. The ZnPcC4-NGO hybrid exhibits enhanced photo-induced electron transfer or energy transfer (PET/ET), compared to the ZnPcC4 covalent functionalized GO (ZnPcC4-GO), owing to the presence of the extended sp(2) carbon configurations, along with the partial reduction of the NGO nanosheets and the introduction of electron-donating ethylenediamine. The nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of the hybrids were investigated using the Z-scan technique at 532 nm with 4 ns laser pulses. The results show that the efficient covalent functionalization and partial reduction of NGO cause the ZnPcC4-NGO hybrid to possess evidently larger NLO properties than the individual NGO, ZnPcC4 and the ZnPcC4-GO hybrid. The enhanced NLO performance can be attributed to the increased excited state absorption from the extended sp(2) carbon configurations of the NGO moiety, reverse saturable absorption arising from ZnPcC4 moiety, and the contribution of the efficient PET/ET process between the ZnPcC4 and NGO moieties in the hybrid.

Structural factors influencing the intramolecular charge transfer and photoinduced electron transfer in tetrapyrazinoporphyrazines

A series of unsymmetrical tetrapyrazinoporphyrazines (TPyzPzs) from the group of azaphthalocyanines with one peripherally attached amino substituent (donor) were synthesized, and their photophysical properties (fluorescence quantum yield and singlet oxygen quantum yield) were determined. The synthesized TPyzPzs were expected to undergo intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) as the main pathway for deactivating their excited states. Several structural factors were found to play a critical role in ICT efficiency. The substituent in the ortho position to the donor center significantly influences the ICT, with tert-butylsulfanyl and butoxy substituents inducing the strongest ICTs, whereas chloro, methyl, phenyl, and hydrogen substituents in this position reduce the efficiency. The strength of the donor positively influences the ICT efficiency and correlates well with the oxidation potential of the amines used as the substituents on the TPyzPz as follows: n-butylamine < N,N-diethylamine < aniline < phenothiazine. The ICT (with conjugated donors and acceptors) in the TPyzPz also proved to be much stronger than a photoinduced electron transfer in which the donor and the acceptor are connected through an aliphatic linker.

Enhancing photoinduced electron transfer efficiency of fluorescent pH-probes with halogenated phenols

Photoinduced electron transfer (PET), which causes pH-dependent quenching of fluorescent dyes, is more effectively introduced by phenolic groups than by amino groups which have been much more commonly used so far. That is demonstrated by fluorescence measurements involving several classes of fluorophores. Electrochemical measurements show that PET in several amino-modified dyes is thermodynamically favorable, even though it was not experimentally found, underlining the importance of kinetic aspects to the process. Consequently, the attachment of phenolic groups allows for fast and simple preparation of a wide selection of fluorescent pH-probes with tailor-made spectral properties, sensitive ranges, and individual advantages, so that a large number of applications can be realized. Fluorophores carrying phenolic groups may also be used for sensing analytes other than pH or molecular switching and signaling.

Effect of intramolecular charge transfer on fluorescence and singlet oxygen production of phthalocyanine analogues

Intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) was studied on a series of magnesium, metal-free and zinc complexes of unsymmetrical tetrapyrazinoporphyrazines and tribenzopyrazinoporphyrazines bearing two dialkylamino substituents (donors) and six alkylsulfanyl or aryloxy substituents (non-donors). The dialkylamino substituents were responsible for ICT that deactivated excited states and led to considerable decrease of fluorescence and singlet oxygen quantum yields. Photophysical and photochemical properties were compared to corresponding macrocycles that do not bear any donor centers. The data showed high feasibility of ICT in the tetrapyrazinoporphyrazine macrocycle and significantly lower efficiency of this deactivation process in the tribenzopyrazinoporphyrazine type molecules. Considerable effect of non-donor peripheral substituents on ICT was also described. The results imply that tetrapyrazinoporphyrazines may be more suitable for development of new molecules investigated in applications based on ICT.