Extended π-aromatic systems for energy conversion: Phthalocyanines and porphyrins in molecular solar cells

Phthalocyanines, porphyrins and related systems are very attractive molecules for their incorporation into solar cells. The strong extinction coefficient of these materials is an intrinsically added value for applications in photovoltaic devices where they can act also as antennas due to their strong absorption in the range of the terrestrial solar emission spectrum. The most significant results by the Spanish groups in this field are given in this account.