Highly ordered thin films prepared with octabutoxy copper phthalocyanine complexes

Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films of copper (II) 1,4,8,11,15,18,22,25-octabutoxyphthalocyanine, nCuPc(OBu)8, (nonperipheral substitution) and copper (II) 2,3,9,10,16,17,23,24-octabutoxyphthalocyanine, pCuPc(OBu)8, (peripheral substitution), were fabricated and characterized by optical spectroscopy and scanning probe microscopy. The LB films were transferred onto hydrophilic substrates by vertical dipping. Although they posses relatively short polar substituents both compounds form smooth, uniform, dense, and highly stable LB monolayers composed of linear arrays of cofacial oligomers. The long range discotic assemblies of LB and spun cast films of pCuPc(OBu)₈ and nCuPc(OBu)₈ posses physical and chemical properties favorable for molecular electronic device application.