Near-Infrared Absorbing Aza-BODIPY Dyes for Optoelectronic Applications

Organic dyes that absorb light in the visible to near-infrared region have garnered significant interest, owing to their extensive utility in organic photovoltaics and various biomedical applications. Aza-boron-dipyrromethene (Aza-BODIPY) dyes are a class of chromophores with impressive photophysical properties such as tunable absorption from the visible region towards near infrared (NIR) region, high molar absorptivity, and fluorescence quantum yield. In this review, we discuss the developments in the aza-BODIPYs, related to their synthetic routes, photophysical properties and their applications. Their design strategies, modifications in chemical structures, mode/position of attachment, and their impact on photo-physical properties are reviewed. The potential applications of aza-BODIPY derivatives such as organic solar cells, photodynamic therapy, boron-neutron capture therapy, fluorescence sensors, photo-redox catalysis, photoacoustic probes and optoelectronic devices are explained.