Formation of aggregates in nanohybrid material of dye molecules–titanate nanosheets

Nanohybrid solution and thin film of Rhodamine 6G (R6G) or pseudo-isocyanine (PIC) with the titanate nanosheets (HTO) of H1.07Ti1.73O4·nH2O with a lepidocrocite-like layered structure were fabricated by using a soft chemical process. The optical properties of the nanohybrids were investigated by absorption and fluorescence spectroscopies. An H-aggregate of the R6G molecules was formed in the R6G–HTO nanohybrid system, while a J-aggregate of the PIC molecules was formed in the nanohybrid PIC–HTO system. Fluorescence quenching behavior was observed in both of the R6G–HTO and PIC–HTO nanohybrid systems.

Graphical abstractNanohybrid thin film of Rhodamine 6G (R6G) with the titanate nanosheets (HTO) of H1.07Ti1.73O4·nH2O were fabricated by using a soft chemical process. The incident angle dependence of the absorption spectra of the R6G–HTO nanohybrid thin film were measured for x- and y-polarization. The difference of the spectra between them suggested to the fact that the R6G molecules were aliened to the specific direction between the HTO nanosheets in the thin film. We consider the higher-order of R6G H-aggregate is formed in the R6G–HTO nanohybrid.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Nanohybrid thin film of Rhodamine 6G with the titanate nanosheets were fabricated. ► The incident angle dependence of the absorption spectra was measured. ► The Rhodamine 6G molecules were aliened to the specific direction between the HTO nanosheets. ► The Rhodamine 6G H-aggregate is formed in the dye–HTO nanohybrid.