Emission spectral studies of phthalocyanines in borate glass matrix (original) (raw)

Organic semiconductors play a very important role in today's high technology applications viz. optical imaging, optical switchng, optical computing, data storage, photodynamic therapy, dynamic holography, frequency mixing, harmonic generation and optical communications . Among the organic semiconductors the phthalocyanines (Pc), naphthalocyanines (Nc) and porphyrines (PP) are of special significance because of their inexpensiveness, thermal and environmental stability, non toxicity as well as excellent optical and electronic properties. A combination of these features makes them an important class of photo-electronic materials for applications in various optoelectronic devices. Moreover, because of their excellent optical absorption efficiency in the red or NIR region they can be effectively utilized as a laser dye also. Most of the studies reported so far discuss the optical characterization of these organic semiconductors either in thin films, crystals, vapor or other solvents whereas no work has been made to study the optical properties of these molecules in solid matrices especially work has been made to study the optical properties of these molecules in solid matrices especially a glassy matrix. Except for some studies in certain organic glassy matrices [5] only a limited amount of work has been done in organic matrices also. Recently our group has synthesized borate glassy matrices doped with metalatted phthalocyanines and rare earth doped phthalocyanines and studied their optical absorption characteristics The purpose of the present communication which is a continuation of the earlier work is to study the stimulated emission characterstics of metalatted phthalocyanine molecules in borate glass matrix with the intention of using them as efficient active media for solid state lasers.