Metallophthalocyanines　(MPc)　exhibit,　among　many　useful　properties,　the　ability　to　protect　sensors　against　short,　intense　pulse　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　zinc　tetrasulfophthalocyanine　(ZnTSPc)　encapsulated　in　silica　xerogel　matrix　obtained　by　sol-gel　technique.　The　resulted　composites　were　transparent　and　homogeneous　with　appropriate　optical　quality.　The　trapping　effect　was　checked　by　the　characteristic　absorption　bands　of　ZnTSPc　in　the　UV/Vis　spectra　and　the　different　pore　structures　of　the　doped　and　undoped　composites.　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.