Aggregation of Rhodamine 6G in titanium dioxide nanolayers and bulk xerogels

• Properties of TiO2 matrices were studied as a function of Rhodamine 6G concentration.
• The study in both types of matrices reveals the presence of luminescent aggregates.
• The differences originate from different structural properties of both matrices.

Nanolayers and bulk xerogels of Rhodamine 6G (Rh6G) in titanium dioxide (Rh6G/TiO2) were prepared using the sol–gel method. The spectroscopic and structural properties of these two types of hybrid matrices were studied as a function of dye concentration.In both cases absorption, fluorescence and time resolved emission spectra show the formation of fluorescent aggregates. The observed stronger changes in characteristics of bulk xerogels can be explained not only by the formation of aggregates but also by different structure of both materials.