Thermal and electrothermal sensitivity of polyglutamic acid with incorporated carbocyanine dyes in Langmuir–Blodgett films

Light-and electrosensitive carbocyanine dyes were incorporated into polyglutamic acid via covalent and non-covalent bonding. The reversible colour change on heating the Langmuir-Blodgett films of polyaminoacid has been studied by absorption spectroscopy and electroconductivity techniques. Characteristic shifts of the absorption spectrum are explained by formation of aggregates and hydrogen bonds. It was shown that H-aggregates and dimers are formed in Langmuir-Blodgett films; each type of assemblies contributes to the absorption spectrum. At elevated temperatures the ratio between concentrations of monomers, dimers and H-aggregates varies due to a breakdown of a part of aggregates into monomers. The change in molecular polarizability was also noticed. Electroconductivity of Langmuir-Blodgett films is observed in longitudinal and transverse directions. Electrochromic effect is noticed under weak electric current by change from red to colourless with iodine doping.