In-situ Synthesis of Copper Phthalocyanine in Silica Xerogel Matrix

Using a newly developed in-situ syntheses technique during sol-gel process, copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) is synthesized in-situ in silica xerogel matrix homogeneously. It has been confirmed by UV-Vis and IR spectroscopies that the copper ions which existed in the form of complex-ions Cu(H₂O)₄]²⁺ and CuCl₄]^2– in the stages of sol and wet gel were destroyed in the heat treatment process, meanwhile the copper phthalocyanine molecules were synthesized in-situ gradually during the wet gel to xerogel transition. The dimerization phenomenon of CuPc in the composite is suppressed greatly because the in-situ synthesized CuPc molecules were well isolated in the micro-pores of the xerogel matrix. The doping concentration of Copper phthalocyanine in sol-gel derived matrix can be enhanced also by this in-situ synthesis method.