Spectroscopic studies of 5,5′-dimethoxy-3,3,′-disulfobutyl-9-ethylthiacarbocyanine (DDTC) in solutions and immobilized in sol-gel matrices

Absorption spectra of 5,5′-dimethoxy-3,3,′-disulfobutyl-9-ethylthiacarbocyanine (DDTC) in aqueous solutions and immobilized in xerogels prepared by the sol-gel method were obtained. Influence of pH, detergent (Triton X-100), ethanol addition and sol-gel preparation method on the dye aggregation equilibria and its photostability were investigated. In liquid solutions lowering of pH, as well as addition of the detergent, shift the aggregation equilibrium towards the DDTC monomeric form. However, while more acidic conditions result in a decrease of the dye stability, addition of the detergent has a slightly stabilizing effect on the dye. However, addition of ethanol drastically reduces the DDTC photodecomposition and shifts the aggregation equilibrium towards the dye monomer. Entrappment of the thiacarboxycyanine in sol-gel matrix does not prevent the bleaching although the entrapped dye displays significantly increased stability. Lowering of temperature and keeping the doped xerogels in the dark further retards the immobilized dye bleaching and dimer formation.