The spin-coated films of 2,9,16,23-tetra(heptyloxy)phthalocyanine show
ed very good gas sensing properties to NO2 at room temperature. The re
sponse and recovery are rapid and complete with good reproducibility a
nd high sensitivity. The magnitude of response of the film to NO2 are
enhanced by irradiation with light. This may be ascribed to the decrea
se in the activation energy for the charge transfer interaction betwee
n the phthalocyanine donor and the gas acceptor by light excitation. (
C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.