Influence of high-energy X-ray irradiation on the optical properties of tetraphenylporphyrin thin films

Tetraphenylporphyrin (TPP) thermally evaporated films were irradiated by different doses (0.5-2.5 kGy) of X-ray with energy 6 MeV. The optical properties for TPP were investigated using spectrophotometric measurements of the transmittance and reflectance at normal incidence of light in the wavelength range from 200 to 1100 nm. The absorption spectra recorded in the UV-VIS region of spectra showed different absorption bands, namely four Q-bands in the visible region of the spectrum and a more intense band termed as the Soret band in the near-UV region of the spectrum. Two other bands labeled N and M appear in the UV region. The Soret band showed Davydov splitting. Increasing X-ray irradiation dose influences the optical properties of TPP films. All absorption bands show a continuous blue shift in position and a decrease in intensity with increasing X-ray dose. At 2.5 kGy the B, N, and M bands disappeared. The reduction in the absorbency was calculated as a function of X-ray dose. The energy gap was determined and the type of optical transition was found to be an indirect allowed transition. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.