Metal-ligand　axial　coordination　of　zinc(II)　phthalocyanines　is　an　efficient　strategy　for　regulation　of　structures　and　properties.　In　this　work,　we　designed　and　prepared　four　unsubstituted　zinc(II)　phthalocyanine　(ZnPc)　dimer-based　supramolecular　complexes　(1–4)　via　axtial　coordination　with　bipyridine　derivatives.　Single　crystal　X-ray　analysis　revealed　that　the　four　novel　complexes　were　dimeric　(i.e.　ZnPc-ligand-ZnPc),　with　H-shape　for　1,　saddle-like　for　2,　and　Z-shapes　for　3　and　4.　It＇s　interesting　that　a　pair　of　saddle-like　dimers　of　2　crossed　each　other　to　form　an　interlocked　tetramer　structure.　Furthermore,　3　and　4　were　dense　stacking　because　of　their　semirigid　ligands,　which　significantly　enhanced　the　intermolecular　interactions.　Intriguingly,　in　the　crystal　structure　of　4,　the　naphthalimide　ring　of　the　ligand　embedded　into　two　neighboring　phthalocyanine　macrocycles,　resulting　in　a　slipped　sandwich　structure　of　ZnPc-naphthalimide-ZnPc　with　double　π···π　interactions.　More　importantly,　the　strong　intermolecular　interactions　led　to　very　broad　absorption　spectra　in　vis-NIR　region,　quenched　fluorescence,　and　highly　efficient　photothermal　effect.　Upon　irradiation,　3　and　4　could　reach　up　to　85.7　°C　and　89.2　°C,　respectively,　enabling　them　to　serve　as　outstanding　photothermal　conversion　materials　used　for　photothermal　imaging　and　therapy.　©　2021　Elsevier　Ltd