Anisotropic and isotropic solvent effects on the dipole moment and photophysical properties of rhodamine dyes

► Solvation mechanism of R6G and RB in different solvent media is dissimilar. ► Three types of variation with solvent can be identified for R6G and RB. ► These dyes show unlike mesomeric resonance structure. ► Mesomeric structures of these dyes are related to solvation interactions. ► Charge transfer process of R6G and RB in liquid crystal media might be facilitated.