Nonlinear optical behavior of n-tuple decker phthalocyanines at the nanosecond regime: investigation of change in mechanisms

Abstract

The coordination system of rare-earth n-tuple decker phthalocyanines would be better suited with appropriate metal ions with the correct coordination number and the solvent system of the reaction, amongst other reasons, for the formation of n-tuple decker phthalocyanines. As a result, these complexes are very rare. In this manuscript, we present new n-tuple decker phthalocyanines in the form of double- (complex 2), quadruple- (complex 3a) and sextuple-decker phthalocyanines (complex 3b), all of which contain neodymium and cadmium metal ions. The primary focus is the investigation of the nonlinear optical (NLO) mechanisms responsible for the observed reverse saturable absorption. While the extension of the π-electron system has been found to enhance the nonlinear optical behavior of complexes 3a and 3b, a change in the NLO mechanisms has been observed, with complex 2 lacking the triplet state population, as revealed by a laser flash photolysis technique. It has also been established that the excited state absorption cross sections follow a clear order of magnitude for the complexes under investigation: σ₂₃ (for 3b) > σ₂₃ (for 3a) > σ_1m (for 2). This trend evidences the effects of the extension of the π-electron system.