Investigation of the Qx-Qy Equilibrium in a Metal-Free Phthalocyanine

Phthalocyanines (Pcs) have attracted a lot of interest as small molecules for organic electronics. However, some excited‐state properties of metal‐free phthalocyanines, as for example, the dynamics of the transition between the nondegenerate Qx and Qy states in a metal‐free phthalocyanine, have not been fully established. This effect results in a blue‐shifted shoulder with low intensity in the Pc fluorescence spectrum. This shoulder was suggested to be related to emission from the more energetic Qy state. By using ultrafast femtosecond transient absorption, we have found a clear equilibrium between the Qx and Qy state of metal‐free phthalocyanines in solution. We're so excited! Femtosecond fluorescence upconversion shows that equilibration between the Qx and Qy state in a metal‐free phthalocyanine occurs within 7 ps.