Supramolecular organization of phthalocyanines: from solution to surface

Abstract

Phthalocyanines are an interesting class of aromatic macrocycles which possess exciting electrical, redox and photophysical properties that make them ideal building blocks for applications in different technological fields. However, the incorporation of phthalocyanines into devices is often tied to the possibility of organizing these macrocycles into arrays using supramolecular interactions. To date, several supramolecular motifs such as hydrogen-bonding, donor-acceptor or metal-ligand interactions have been used to promote the phthalocyanines' organization in solution. Furthermore, such weak, non-covalent interactions have also been widely employed to foster the organization of these macrocycles in condensed phases such as liquid-crystals or thin films. This micro-review provides a brief overview of the contribution made by some research groups in Spain towards the preparation of organized phthalocyanine-based supramolecular systems.