Synthesis and photophysical behavior of a novel zinc phthalocyanine containing a single carboxylic acid and three phenylthio substituents

► An unsymmetrically substituted zinc phthalocyanine is synthesized. ► Unsymmetrical substitution results in larger triplet lifetimes. ► Unsymmetrical substitution does not alter triplet or fluorescence quantum yields. ► Monoexponential fluorescence lifetimes are obtained.