Research paperControlled formation of pseudoisocyanine J-aggregates in the interlayer space of synthetic saponite

- Photonic properties of pseudoisocyanine cation/saponite films were investigated.
- The J-aggregate formation was enhanced after swelling with dimethyl sulfoxide.
- The monomeric form can be restored after removal of dimethyl sulfoxide.

In presented work dye assemblies with J-type intermolecular coupling, which are well recognized not only for their exciton transport but also for hole and electron transport properties were investigated. The use of materials consisting of J-type dye assemblies can be significantly enhanced if their photonic properties can be controlled by some external stimuli. For these reasons the switching abilities between J-type aggregated and non-aggregated states of a cationic cyanine dye, 1,1′-diethyl-2,2′-cyanine (pseudoisocyanine, PIC) intercalated in the interlayer space of synthetic saponite (Sap) were compared. The switching was performed by adding and removing of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) from the interlayer space. The PIC/Sap hybrid film prepared at 70% CEC loading level has shown excellent stability within 20 cycles of photophysical response after adding and removing of DMSO from the interlayer space, indicating that presented experimental approach can be useful in the future development of artificial light harvesting or semiconductor systems with controllable properties.

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