Fabrication and properties of acid blue 25 dye-intercalated layered double hydroxides film on an anodic alumina/aluminum substrate

The Acid Blue 25 (1-amino-9,10-dihydro-9,10-dioxo-4-(phenylamino)-2-anthracenesulphonate) anion intercalated layered double hydroxides (LDH) film was fabricated through an ion-exchange method using a ZnAl–NO3–LDH/porous anodic alumina/aluminum (PAO/Al) film as the precursor. The prepared film was investigated by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Thermogravimetric–differential thermal analysis (TG–DTA) and the CIE 1976 L⁎a⁎b⁎ color difference method. XRD patterns and FT-IR spectra confirm the successful incorporation of ADPA anions into the interlayer spacings of ZnAl–LDH with an expansion of d-spacing from 0.87 nm to 2.49 nm and the disappearance of characteristic IR absorption band of NO3− anions at 1384 cm−1. The SEM morphologies show that the LDH films are mainly oriented with the ab face of the platelet crystallites perpendicular to the substrate surface. Additionally, the obtained results suggest that the intercalation of ADPA into ZnAl–LDH host markedly improves the thermal stability and light fastness of ADPA.

► An Acid Blue 25 anion–pillared LDH film has been fabricated by anion-exchange method.
► Intercalation into the film of ZnAl–LDH enhances the thermal stability of the dye.
► The obtained film shows better light fastness than the dye.