Published online by Cambridge University Press: 03 September 2012
We characterize the optical properties of modified meso-alkynyl porphyrins by a number of techniques. Our data show that extending the conjugation and incorporating metal in the center of the ring in these molecules serve the objective of tuning the absorption maximum wavelength. We evaluate the optical limiting performance by determining the effective reversesaturable- absorption (RSA) lifetime and the change in the absorption cross-sections. The ultimate optical limiting performance of these molecules is tested in both picosecond and nanosecond regimes.