Wet-processed
films of crystalline metal phthalocyanines (MPc’s)
are constructed from compact islands surrounded by disordered dye
matter, which limits the physical properties of MPc films and, thus,
requires much structural improvement. The present work considers this
problem through the prism of a model compound, namely, highly symmetrical
copper tetra-tert-butylporphyrazine (C
4h
-CuPaz) that readily crystallizes irrespective
of experimental conditions. Specifically, the film-forming properties
of C
4h
-CuPaz were examined
in both an individual dye sample and a mixture of C
4h
-CuPaz with the asymmetrical isomers.
The dye films deposited by using the Langmuir–Schaefer technique
were characterized by Brewster angle microscopy, scanning electron
microscopy, small-angle X-ray scattering, and optical spectroscopy.
The experimental data were integrated to construct a comprehensive
scenario of the crystalline film growth starting from colloidal aggregates
preassembled on the water surface. Finally a stratagem for improving
the morphology of solution-processed MPc films is proposed: to obtain
properly structured crystalline films, a stable hybrid phase composed
of two MPc’s with different phase behaviors should be designed
as a physical substitute for the disordered dye matter.