Photophysical property and photostability of J-aggregate thin films of thiacyanine dyes prepared by the spin-coating method

By use of electrostatic interactions of dye molecules and poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA), the spin-coating technique has been successfully applied to the preparation of stable J-aggregate thin films of thiacarbocyanine dyes on a polycarbonate or quartz plate. The J-aggregate thin films were prepared by the spin-coating of PDDA aqueous solution on dye thin films prepared on a substrate by the spin-coating of 2,2,3,3-tetrafluoro-1-propanol solution of dyes. Photophysical properties of the dye thin films and J-aggregate thin films were studied by measuring the fluorescence spectra, quantum yields, and lifetimes. Coherent size of the J-aggregates was estimated to be 3-12 by means of the absorption bandwidth (full width at half maximum) or radiative lifetime. Photostability of the J-aggregate thin films was also studied in terms of photodegradation efficiency under argon and oxygen in comparison with the dye thin films, and J-aggregate thin films were found to be more stable than the corresponding dye thin films.     

Photo-induced structural changes of azobenzene Langmuir-Blodgett films

Structural changes of the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films of azobenzene accompanied by photoisomerization are described. First, photoisomerization is explained in terms of 'free volume'. In the polyion complex monolayers of amphiphiles having two azobenzene units at the air-water interface, the area per molecule depends on the polycation species. The fraction of cis-azobenzene in the LB films at the photostationary state under the illumination with UV light increased with increasing area per molecule, which is consistent with the concept of free volume. Second, a counter example of the concept of free volume is presented. Three-dimensional cone-shaped structures developed with trans-to-cis photoisomerization in the polyion complex LB film of a water-soluble amphiphilic azobenzene. These structures appeared and disappeared reversibly by alternate illumination with UV and visible light. The results indicate that the two-dimensional LB film structure exerts significant modification by photoisomerization. This is against the concept of free volume because this concept does not consider the possibility that the two-dimensional LB film structures may change into three-dimensional ones. Finally, photo-induced J-aggregate formation of non-photochromic and photochromic dyes is described. Two cyanine dyes were each mixed with an amphiphilic azobenzene in the LB films. These cyanine dyes are known to form J-aggregates in single-component LB films. In the mixed LB films, the J-aggregate formation was suppressed to some extent. The alternate illumination of the films with UV and visible light caused the photoisomerization of azobenzene in the mixed LB films, which triggered the J-aggregate formation of the cyanine dyes. The J-aggregate formation was accompanied by the development of three-dimensional cone-shaped structures from the film surface. When an amphiphilic merocyanine was mixed with the azobenzene in the LB films, J-aggregate formation was also induced by the alternate illumination with UV and visible light. This J-aggregate formation was also accompanied by a large morphological change: circular domains changed into fractal-like ones. The J-aggregate formation of the dyes and the concomitant morphological change were irreversible. In these cases, the photoisomerization of azobenzene served as a trigger to induce self-organization of the dye molecules.     

Luminescence properties of the mixed J-aggregate of oxacyanine dye and thiacyanine dye. Formation of a persistence-type aggregate

The monolayer assemblies incorporating the J-aggregates of oxacyanine dye, N,N'-dioctadecyloxacyanine perchlorate (S9), and thiacyanine dye, N,N'-dioctadecylthiacyanine perchlorate (S11), S9(J) + S11(J), have been fabricated by the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) technique. The mole fraction X of S11, X = [S11]/([S9] + [S11]), was varied from 0 to 1. Steady-state absorption spectra, fluorescence spectra, and picosecond fluorescence decay curves of the monolayer assemblies have been measured. Spectroscopic properties of the monolayer assemblies incorporating the individual dye aggregates, S9 J-aggregate (S9(J), X = 0) or S11 J-aggregate (S11(J), X = 1), are characterized by a distinct J-band and resonance fluorescence at lambda(ab) = 403 nm and lambda(em) = 403 nm for S9(J) and lambda(ab) = 456 nm and lambda(em) = 463 nm for S11(J). On the other hand, absorption spectra of the S9(J) + S11(J) assemblies for X = 0.1-0.9 display two absorption bands, a shorter wavelength one and a longer wavelength one, whose peak positions are blue-shifted from those of the corresponding J-bands of the S9 J-aggregate and the S11 J-aggregate, respectively. Furthermore, fluorescence spectra are characterized by a single band (longer wavelength fluorescence) which is somewhat blue-shifted from the resonance fluorescence of the S11 J-aggregate. The fluorescence lifetimes of the S11 J-aggregate and isolated S11 molecules in LB films appear to be tau = 110 and 1900 ps, respectively, while the fluorescence lifetime of the longer wavelength fluorescence of the S9(J) + S11(J) assemblies takes practically a constant value of tau = 170-180 ps for X = 0.2-0.8. These observations would indicate that S9 and S11 molecules in the S9(J) + S11(J) assembly can form a specific mixed aggregate distinct from the individual S9 and S11 J-aggregates. From detailed considerations of the former works on luminescence properties of the S9 J-aggregate doped with isolated S11 molecules, as well as the mosaic-type mixed J-aggregate (M-aggregate) composed of a certain thiacyanine dye, 3,3'-disulfopropyl- 5,5'-dichlorothiacyanine sodium salt, and thiacarbocyanine dye, meso-substituted 3,3'-disulfopropyl-5,5'-dichlorothiacarbocyanine potassium salt, it is suggested that S9 and S11 can form a homogeneous aggregate of the persistence type (HP-aggregate). The HP-aggregate is distinguished from the M-aggregate because it is characterized by homogeneous mixing of two component dyes and persistence of two absorption bands.     

水溶性菁染料与类脂物混合单分子膜中J-聚集体形成的研究

报道了具有相同发色团,并有不同电荷的二种菁染料单分子膜中J-聚集体的形成。测定了单分子膜的π/A,△V/A曲线,反射光谱及吸收光谱。从实验结果得出:带正电荷的染料与花生酸混合形成单分子膜后,膜中染料的二聚体与J-聚集体随着表面压力改变存在着一个平衡。而带负电荷的染料与二十烷基胺成膜后,即使在很低的表面压下也有J-聚集体形成。同时染料分子在水面上的取向是各向异性。     

反胶束体系中水团的笼效应

在反胶束体系中研究了菁染料的吸收光谱以及ω值对菁染料荧光光谱的影响.讨论了不同粒径的AgCl纳米粒子对反胶束体系中菁染料的吸附状态及J-聚集体形成的影响.特别研究了反胶束水团空间限定效应对菁染料荧光量子产率及J-聚集体的影响.     

立方体溴化银颗粒光谱增感的电子转移超快动力学研究

本文利用皮秒时间分辨条纹相机技术检测了3种染料在立方颗粒溴化银上吸附后形成聚集体的荧光光谱,分析了3种染料在不同染料浓度下对染料聚集体到溴化银导带的超快电子转移过程的影响,进而分析其对增感效率的影响关系,并探讨了增感过程的微观机理.实验结果表明,荧光衰减的动力学曲线与一个双指数函数拟合得相当好,存在一快一慢两个衰减成分,快衰减成分占拟合较大比例,表明其源于与荧光衰减相竞争的从激发态染料聚集体到AgBr导带的电子转移.光致电子转移的速率及增感效率随着染料相对浓度的增加表现出一定的变化趋势,染料浓度增加,增感效率减小.     

J-聚集体生成中阴离子菁与外加盐反离子相互作用的量热瘀电化学活度测量

用量热和反离子活度测量法研究了阴离子菁(Ⅰ)在DMF-水(35%DMF, V/V)中生成J-聚集体时, 染料与外加盐反离子之间的相互作用。当外加盐为CdCl_2或LaCl_3时, 由量热曲线获得J-聚集焓△H_9, 分别为-42.6, -42.0 kJ·mol~(-1), 染料(Ⅰ)束缚的Cd~(2+), La~(3+)量与染料量之比分别为0.48:1和0.31:1。由反离子活度的电化学活度测量获得束缚的Cd~(2+)离子量与染料量之比为0.47:1, 这些结果表明J-聚集体中, 染料与其反离子形成了盐型的总体。     

Interfacial assemblies of cyanine dyes and gemini amphiphiles with rigid spacers: regulation and interconversion of the aggregates

A series of gemini amphiphiles with a pyridinium headgroup and rigid spacers were designed, and their interfacial assemblies with cyanine dyes, 3,3-disulfopropyl-9-methyl-selenacarbocyanine (SeCy) and 3,3-disulfopropyl-4,5,4',5'-dibenzo-9-methyl-thiocarbocyanine (MTC), through the air/water interface were investigated. Although the dyes have intrinsic tendencies to form J- or H-aggregates in aqueous solutions, their aggregation could be regulated in the complex films. Depending on the spacer, both J- and H-aggregates were formed for SeCy, whereas an H-aggregate with different absorption bands was obtained for MTC. Furthermore, the formed aggregates in the films could be reversibly switched by treating the complex films with HCl, NH3 gas, or water vapor. The J-aggregates of SeCy could be changed into H-aggregates and recovered through an alternative HCl/NH3 exposure in the films. The H-aggregate of the MTC film could be changed into J-aggregate upon exposure to HCl gas and subsequently put into air or NH 3 gas, and the thus-formed J-aggregate could be changed into H-aggregate under hot water vapor. In addition, such a reversible switch between different aggregates of MTC was only observed when the gemini amphiphiles with rigid spacers were applied. A possible explanation related to the protonation of the dye and the reorganizations in the film during the interconversion between different aggregates was proposed.     

Spacer-controlled aggregation and surface morphology of a selenacarbocyanine dye on gemini monolayers

The adsorption and aggregation of a selenacarbocyanine dye (3,3-disulfopropyl-9-methyl-selenacarbocyanine, SeCy) onto Langmuir monolayers of a series of gemini amphiphiles with different methylene spacers were investigated. When the monolayers of the gemini amphiphiles were spread on the dye-containing subphase, the dye could be easily adsorbed and aggregated onto the monolayers through the electrostatic and pi-pi interaction. The dye formed complexes with gemini amphiphiles and stacked as J-aggregates in all the transferred multilayers, regardless of the structure of gemini amphiphiles. However, the surface morphologies of the complex monolayers showed a significant dependence on the spacer length of the gemini amphiphiles and the temperature of the subphase. Nanorods were observed for the complex films with spacer lengths ranged from 4 to 10 methylenes. With the temperature of the subphases increased from 20 degrees C to 30 degrees C, aligned longer nanofibers were formed instead. Although both the gemini amphiphiles and the dye were achiral, strong circular dichroism (CD) signals were observed for the transferred complex films. However, the CD signals could be just opposite in different places of the transferred films, suggesting that a resolved enantiomeric micro/nanostructure coexisted in the films. On the other hand, for the complex film of the dye with the gemini amphiphile of two methylenes spacer, neither CD signal nor ordered surface morphologies were detected in any place of the film although the dye itself stilled formed J-aggregate in the film. It was suggested that regular nanoarchitectures and resolved chiral domains could be observed only when the spacer of gemini amphiphiles is comparative to the distance between the two SO3- groups in the dye.     

Interaction of cyanine dyes with nucleic acids. XVIII. Formation of the carbocyanine dye J-aggregates in nucleic acid grooves.

Spectral properties of carbocyanine dye 3-methyl-2-[3-methyl-2-(3-methyl-2,3-dihydro-1,3-benzothiazole-2-iliden)-1- butenyl]-1,3-benzothiazole-3-il iodide (Cyan betaiPr) in water solution, as well as in the presence of different types of double stranded DNA have been studied. While in water solution of 'free' dye Cyan betaiPr stays mainly in monomeric form, in the presence of DNA the dye molecules form J-aggregates. The molecular structure of these J-aggregates causes the Davydov splitting of their absorption band, corresponding to the first electronic transition. A study of site-specificity showed that in the presence of poly (dA/dT) the majority of Cyan betaiPr molecules form J-aggregates, while in the presence of poly (dGC/dGC) dye molecules stay mainly in monomeric form and in presence of chicken erythrocytes DNA both J-aggregate and monomeric forms of dye are present. We suppose that Cyan betaiPr molecules aggregate in DNA groove, which serves as a template for J-aggregate forming. An increase of ionic strength of solution leads to the release of dye molecules from DNA grooves and prevents J-aggregates formation.     

某些硫碳菁染料在溴碘化银乳剂中聚集态的研究

本文应用三种不同晶形的溴碘化银乳剂(立方体、八面体和T-颗粒)和八种硫碳菁染料(大部分为内铵盐结构染料)进行了染料的聚集态的研究。试验结果表明,染料的J-聚集态的形成主要取决于染料的结构,其次依赖于卤化银的晶形。三种不同结构的表面活性剂对染料聚集态的形成均有影响,其中两性的表面活性剂最强,阴离子的表面活性剂次之,中性的表面活性剂最弱。二种中位甲基取代的硫碳菁染料的聚集态受表面活性剂影响最为明显,形成较强的J-态,而对其它六种染料的聚集态影响较小,J-聚集态稍有增强。     

染料聚集态中空穴传递的顺磁共振研究

本文应用了顺磁共振波谱技术,研究了染料J-聚集体对染料正空穴俘获电子的影响。实验所用乳剂是未经化学增感的溴化银(AgBr),染料用量2.5×10^-4摩尔染料/摩尔银。涂片厚度为3微米左右。     

Regulation of aggregation and morphology of cyanine dyes on monolayers via gemini amphiphiles

The aggregation of dyes is of considerable importance in relating to their functions and applications. In this paper, we have investigated the regulation on the aggregation and morphology of two cyanine dyes, 3,3'-disulfopropyl-4,5,4',5'-dibenzo-9-methylthiacarbocyanine triethylammonium salt (MTC) and 3,3'-disulfopropyl-4,5,4',5'-dibenzo-9-phenylthiacarbocyanine triethylammonium salt (PTC), using a series of gemini amphiphiles (bis(2'-heptadecyl-3'-ethylimidazolium)-1,n-alkane dibromide, abbreviated as Gn, n=2, 4, 6, 8, 10). It has been found that both of the dyes could be adsorbed onto the monolayers of the gemini amphiphiles through the electrostatic and pi-pi interaction and stacked into H- or J-aggregate. The spacer of the gemini amphiphile showed good control over the aggregation of MTC: H-aggregate was favored when gemini amphiphiles with short spacer were applied, while J-aggregation was preferred in the case of longer spacer. Only J-aggregate was observed for PTC on gemini monolayer, regardless of the structure of the gemini amphiphiles. Interesting morphologies were observed for all the gemini/dye complex monolayers. Network structure and nanofibers were formed for the gemini/MTC films transferred below the plateau surface pressure and close to the collapse pressure, respectively. The ability of the complex monolayers to form nanofibers strongly depended on the component amphiphiles, G2>G4>G6, and no nanofibers were observed for G8/MTC and G10/MTC after the collapse. Only squared domains were observed for gemini/PTC monolayers. When both G2 and G10 were mixed, an individual control of the gemini amphiphiles over the aggregation of MTC in the complex monolayers was observed. The relationship among the spacer, dye structure, and aggregation was revealed.     

Controlling J aggregation in fluorescein by bile salt hydrogels

Aggregation of the well-known xanthene dye, fluorescein has been studied in the restricted environment of a bile salt hydrogel and in the bile salt micelles. It has been observed that the hydrogel can be used to some extent “control” the type of aggregation in fluorescein, since J-aggregate formation is favored at the expense of H-aggregates in the gel. In contrast to the hydrogel, the effect of normal bile salt micelles is less dramatic, i.e., bile salt micelles do not lead to significant change in the type of dye aggregation.     

不同取代基的噻碳菁和吲哚碳菁染料对其在溴化银微晶上吸附能力及形成J-聚集体尺寸分布的影响

本文研究了5-位不同取代基的噻碳菁和吲哚碳菁染料对其在立方型颗粒和T-颗粒溴化银微晶上吸附能力的影响,并采用ACFEM(Analytical Color Fluore scence Electron Microscopy)研究了上述结构染料对其吸附在溴化银微晶所形成的J-聚集体尺寸分布的影响。实验结果表明,对吲哚碳菁染料来说,立方体溴化银微晶表面的吸附能力较T-颗粒溴化银微晶表面的吸附能力强;但对噻碳菁染料来说则相反,它们在T-颗粒溴化银微晶表面的吸附能力较立方体溴化银微晶表面的吸附能力强。另外,对5-位不同取代基的噻碳菁染料而言,无论是在立方型颗粒或T-颗粒溴化银微晶上的吸附能力来说,含取代基(无论4-取代基是吸电子型还是推电子型)的噻碳菁染料较未取代的噻碳菁染料强;而5-位取代基是吸电子型的噻碳菁染料更有利于其吸附在T-颗粒溴化银微晶表面。此外,本文还进一步证明了溴化银微晶表面上染料J-聚集体的生长过程是符合奥斯瓦尔特成熟过程的。吲哚碳菁染料在T-颗粒溴化银微晶上形成的J-聚集体的平均尺寸明显大于在立方体溴化银微晶上形成的J-聚集体的平均尺寸。吸附在立方体溴化银微晶上的5-不同取代基的噻碳菁染料对其形成J-聚集体尺寸分布的影响的研究结果表明,含取代基(-CH₃,-Ph,-Cl)的噻碳菁染料形成的J-聚集体的尺寸分布几乎相同,但与未取代的噻碳菁染料形成的J-聚集体的尺寸分布明显不同;5-位含取代基的噻碳菁染料形成的J-聚集体平均尺寸大于未取代的噻碳菁染料的。     

J-aggregation and its characterization in Langmuir-Blodgett films of merocyanine dyes

Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films are constructed by successively transferring monomolecular layers formed at the air-water interface onto solid substrates. One of the advantages of the LB technique in fabricating molecular aggregates lies in the fact that it can employ various kinds of molecules by mixing them at the air-water interface. The mixed system may exhibit new properties that are not observed for individual components. This method would be useful, for example, in the studies of the formation and control of the J-aggregates of functional dyes that attract attention both in science and technology. In this paper, I review this subject mainly based on our recent results in merocyanines. LB films of merocyanine dyes, mixed with arachidic acid (C(20)), exhibit J-aggregate formation and have been serving as typical systems in revealing the physical and structural aspects of nanosized molecular aggregates constructed as monolayers. In the case of LB films of a merocyanine dye having benzothiazole as donor nucleus (abbreviated as DS), electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy has been successful in determining the characteristic in-plane orientation of dye molecules with respect to the dipping direction, which led to the discovery of the flow orientation effect during the dipping process of LB films as the origin of optical dichroism often observed in LB films. In this article, after an introduction of ESR spectroscopy, three major topics on the merocyanine J-aggregation and its characterization in mixed films are discussed. The first topic is the observation and control of the size of J-aggregates in the dilution limit of dyes in arachidic acid matrix for a methyl-substituted DS (6-Me-DS). Dependence of atomic force microscopy (AFM) patterns on the molar ratio allows the identification of dye domains. J-band optical peak analysis based on the Kuhn's extended dipole model, supplemented by a novel application of femtosecond pump-probe optical spectroscopy, yields the size of the J-aggregates of 10(3). The second topic is the control of the J-band peak wavelengths by mixing two different kinds of dye molecules. The first case is the mixture of a J-forming 6-Me-DS and non-J-forming merocyanine analog, DO with benzo-oxazole instead of benzothiazole of DS. The second case is the mixture of both J-forming dyes but with different J-band peak positions, 6-Me-DS and another analog of 5-Cl-DS. The optical peak shifts depending on the molar mixing ratio will be presented. The last topic is related to the elucidation of electronic states of dye molecules in the J-aggregates. Light-induced ESR (LESR) of DS films with stable isotope ((15)N or (13)C)-substituted dyes provide clear evidence for the photoinduced charge transfer by the detection of hyperfine structures. Moreover, infrared (IR) spectroscopy of (13)C-enriched dye identifies the IR absorption peak of the relevant carbon in the chromophore. The results give evidence for the enhanced intramolecular charge transfer of dyes in the J-aggregates compared with an isolated merocyanine composed of donor and acceptor moiety. Lastly, the Cl attachment in 5-Cl-DS leads to a significant enhancement of the nitrogen hyperfine coupling in the LESR spectra. These examples and others demonstrate the potential of LB films of merocyanines in the studies of the nanosized molecular aggregates in monolayer assemblies.     

Spectroscopic and fluorescence properties of silver-dye composite nanoparticles

The aim of this work was to investigate the formation of J-aggregates of thiacyanine dye (TC, 5,5′-disulfopropyl-3,3′-dichlorothiacyanine sodium salt) in the presence of 6 nm spherical silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) using spectrophotometric and fluorescence methods. The formation of J-aggregates was concentration dependent and characterized by the appearance of the new absorption band with the maximum at 481 nm. Spectrophotometric study of J-aggregate formation and time stability suggested that they were formed on the account of monomer form of TC. Moreover, the stability of J-aggregates increased with the lowering AgNPs concentration. The measurements of fluorescence of the NPs—dye assembly clearly indicated that the fluorescence of TC was quenched by Ag NPs on the concentration dependent manner. The spectrophotometric and fluorescence properties of NPs—dye assembly were found to be quantitatively related to the surface coverage of the dye on the Ag NPs.     

Infrared electroluminescence of organic nanocrystals in polymer composites

Electroluminescent polymeric nanocomposite structures that are based on aromatic polyimides and cyanine dye nanosized crystals known as J aggregates and emit light in the IR region were prepared. For the first time, doped polymer systems were found to display IR luminescence whose spectrum had the form of a very narrow band that peaked at 1100 nm. Nanosized J-aggregate crystals in these new polymer materials act not only as effective acceptors of energy of excitonic states but also as active electron-hole transport sites.     

Preparation of J-aggregate liposome dispersions and their chromic transformation

We report the preparation of aqueous liposome dispersions of J-aggregates formed by the amphiphilic merocyanine dye (MD). A series of liposome-forming lipids were dispersed together with MD J-aggregates at different molar ratios of MD to lipid. The MD J-aggregate dispersions prepared with 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) at the MD to DMPC ratio of 0.16 exhibit good dispersibility; that is, they can be readily redispersed without any flocculation even after their precipitation. By use of different counterions for the MD molecules, two types of J-aggregate dispersions, one that exhibits an absorption band (J-band) at 635 nm (type I) and the other at 600 nm (type II), were obtained. As an example of the use of MD J-aggregates liposome dispersions, the thermochromic transformation of MD J-aggregates was demonstrated. When the dispersions are heated, J-aggregates of type I transformed into type II at a certain temperature (T(disp)). The parameters that control the speed of the transformation and the value of T(disp) were determined.     

Thermal behavior of J-aggregates in mixed Langmuir-Blodgett films composed of merocyanine dye and deuterated arachidic acid investigated by UV-visible and infrared absorption spectroscopy

We have investigated the thermal behavior of J-aggregates in the mixed Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films composed of the merocyanine dye (MS18)-deuterated arachidic acid (C20-d) binary system in the temperature range from 25 to 250 degrees C by means of UV-visible and IR transmission absorption spectroscopy. The temperature-dependent variations in both UV-visible and IR absorption spectra indicate that the MS18 aggregation states are linked with the MS18 intramolecular charge transfer and the behavior of the packing, orientation, conformation, and thermal mobility of the MS18 hydrocarbon chain. The J-aggregate formed at 25 degrees C in the mixed LB films dissociates in the temperature range from 25 to 110 degrees C, which is mainly ascribed to the increase in the thermal mobility of MS18 hydrocarbon chain and the dissociation of the chelation by a cadmium ion to the MS18 keto group. A thermally induced blue-shifted band appears at around 515 nm from 110 to 160 degrees C. This band is attributed to oligomeric aggregation with side-by-side alignment of the MS18 transition dipole moments on the basis of the shift to a higher-energy side, broadening, and temporary increment of the MS18 intramolecular charge transfer of the band. Consequently, the appearance of the thermally induced blue-shifted band indicates the possibility that the MS18 aggregation states can be controlled from the red shift to the blue shift by the annealing method adopted in the present study.