Nonlinear optical limiting properties of organic metal phthalocyanine compounds

Abstract

With the rapid development of laser technology, laser weapons that can cause increasing amounts of harm to humans are emerging. In recent years, studies on optical limiting (OL) materials have been carried out with great efforts among countries. Phthalocyanine (Pc) compound exhibits characteristics of broad OL threshold, obvious limiting effect, and fast response. Because of these characteristics, Pc is considered as a very promising OL material that is significant in laser protective materials′ research, which currently focuses on increasing performance and stability. This paper reviews and summarizes the current knowledge of Pc OL materials. First, the mechanism of the OL effect of Pc compounds is introduced, and then followed by a detailed analysis of the factors influencing the OL effect and process, and the influence on the photophysical and OL performance of Pc materials. The analysis highlights problems to be solved and proposes the future direction for Pc materials′ research.