The optical and photovoltaic properties of dichlorotin phthalocyanine (SnCl2Pc) films and SnCl2Pc/pentacene (Pn) heterostructures (HS) have been studied. Weak bands at 1.35, 1.52 and 2.05 eV have been found in absorption and modulated photo reflectance spectra of SnCl2Pc films. These bands can be caused by the formation of charge transfer states. The low concentration of recombination centers of charge carriers has been formed on a free surface of SnCl2Pc films. This concentration essentially decreases at air evacuation before vacuum deposition of a Pn layer. Therefore, interface with an insignificant recombination rate of charge carriers is formed for SnCl2Pc/ Pn HS. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.