Used as a photosensitizer in photodynamic therapy for cancer treatment due to its strong absorption of light and ability to generate reactive oxygen species. Also applied in organic semiconductors and solar cells because of its excellent light-harvesting and electron-transport properties. Serves as a building block in supramolecular chemistry for designing molecular sensors and catalysts. Its rigid, planar structure and extended π-conjugation make it suitable for use in dye-sensitized systems and as a fluorescent probe in imaging studies.