Magnetic field-induced reactions on the surface of chloroaluminum phthalocyanine thin films

The mu-(oxo) bis[phthalocyaninato] aluminum(III) (AlPc)(2)O films, with the crystallites oriented preferably in one direction, were obtained via chemical transformation of chloroaluminum(III) phthalocyanine AlClPc film upon its annealing in magnetic field. A comparative analysis of the influence of postdeposition annealing without and under applied magnetic field of 1 T on composition and morphology of AlClPc films has been carried out. The chemical transformation of AlClPc to (AlPc)(2)O on the substrate surface is studied by the methods of UV-vis and infrared spectroscopies, Raman, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy as well as atomic force microscopy. Two interesting effects were observed upon heating the AlClPc films in magnetic field of 1 T. First, the temperature of the chemical transformation of AlClPc to (AlPc)(2)O decreased from 300 degrees C to 200 degrees C when magnetic field was applied during postdeposition annealing. Second, the formation of (AlPc)(2)O films with elongated crystallites with a preferential orientation was observed. The heating of (AlPc)(2)O films in a magnetic field at the same conditions did not demonstrate any effect on the structure and morphology of these films. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3569860]