Mixing characterization of perylene and merocyanine Langmuir-Blodgett films

Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films of mixtures of 3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic diimide (PTCDI), merocyanine dye (DO) and arachidic acid (C20) with different molecular ratios, were prepared on Cd2+-containing and pure-water subphases. The characterization of mixed Langmuir and LB films were performed by using, respectively, surface pressure-molecular area isothermetry and UV-Vis-IR absorption spectroscopy. The analysis indicates that interaction between the two dyes modifies their arrangements and electronic states in their mixed Langmuir films spread upon the Cd2+-containing subphase. However, the mixed LB films with the pure-water subphase are showed to be simple physical mixtures. The difference in the mixing effect observed for the Langmuir films upon the Cd-containing and pure-water subphases may be caused by the formation of metal chelation with the former subphase.