Metallophthalocyanines　(MPc)　exhibit,　among　many　useful　properties,　the　ability　to　protect　sensors　against　short　intense　pulse　that　is　deleterious　to　efficient　sensor　operation.　For　the　successful　application　of　this　optical　limiting　property,　an　important　issue　is　the　incorporation　of　MPc　molecules　in　a　matrix　to　fabricate　a　solid-state　system.　We　report　here　the　study　of　different　concentrations　of　aluminum　tetrasulfophthalocyanine　chloride　(AlTSPcCl)　encapsulated　in　silica　xerogel　matrix　obtained　by　sol-gel　technique.　The　resulting　composites　were　transparent　and　homogeneous　with　appropriate　optical　quality.　The　trapping　effect　was　checked　by　the　characteristic　absorption　bands　of　NiTSPc　in　the　UV/Vis　spectra.　The　optical　limiting　properties　of　the　composites　were　measured　at　532　nm　with　8-ns　pulses.　(C)　2002　Elsevier　Science　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.