Spectroscopic and electrochromical properties of metallophthalocyanines in silicate bulks and thin films prepared by the sol–gel method

Abstract Magnesium phthalocyanine (MgPc) and praseodymium bisphthalocyanine (Pr(Pc) 2 ) have been entrapped in bulks and thin films of porous silicate xerogels prepared via the sol–gel method. The electronic absorption data obtained for the complexes immobilized in bulk sol–gel matrices indicate the formation of complex equilibria between their monomeric forms and respective agglomerates. Thin xerogel films doped with metallophthalocyanines and connecting two slides of transparent ITO electrodes display changes in the absorption spectra caused by varying of the applied voltage. These changes appear to be reversible in certain ranges of the applied voltages.