The influence of metal ions on the photochemical, photophysical, and antibacterial properties of three cationic porphyrin-triphenylphosphonium conjugates was investigated for the first time. Coordination with Zn(II), Pd(II) and Co(II) enabled fine-tuning of these conjugates properties, with Zn(II) complexes demonstrating particular promise. While Pd(II) and Co(II) complexes failed to generate singlet oxygen (1O...