Photophysical behaviour of cationic 2-(dimethylamino) ethanethio tetrasubstituted phthalocyanine complexes in the presence of gold nanoparticles

► Mg and Al phthalocyanines containing (dimethylamino) ethanethiol were synthesized. ► The complexes were conjugated to gold nanoparticles. ► The conjugates showed decreased fluorescence quantum yields and lifetimes. ► High triplet quantum yields and shortened triplet lifetimes were observed.