Vanadium oxide intercalated with polyelectrolytes: Novel layered hybrids with anion exchange properties

► Hybrids were developed by the insertion of PDDA and PAH in V2O5 interlayer space. ► The anion exchange hybrids were used to host an anionic cyanine dye. ► Interlayer space of V2O5 expands from 0.44 to 1.40 nm and 1.80 nm for PDDA and PAH. ► XPS and DR UV-Vis-NIR revealed that a part of V5+ was reduced to V4+ by intercalation.