Optical limiting properties of phthalocyanine-fullerene derivatives.

The solubility of fullerene (C[sub 60]) is improved by combining it with an alkyl group of substituted copper (II) phthalocyanine (CuPc) through Diels-Alder reaction. Optical limiting properties of this compound were investigated by using a double frequency Nd:YAG laser system at a wavelength of 532 nm with pulse duration of 45 ps. The results show that there are two separated conjugation systems in this kind of molecule. Both of them independently contribute to the reverse saturable absorption. Broadband optical limiting materials might be designed based on the combination of various optical limiting molecules through covalent bonds. Phase separation problems existing in the mixture of various materials can be avoided. © 2001 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]