Optoelectric properties of a novel liquid crystal zinc tetraphenyltetrabenz
oporphyrin (ZnTPTBP) is studied with the aid of surface photovoltaic spectr
oscopy (SPS) and electric-field-induced SPS. The surface photovoltage respo
nse at 550 nm under external field is assigned to the pi-pi* transmission i
n the columns of micro pi system formed in ZnTPTBP solid film and is though
t to be related with the electro-optical memory effect of liquid crystal po
rphyrin. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Limited. All rights reserved.