J-aggregates of thiacyanine dye organized in LB films: effect of irradiation of light

Abstract

In the present communication we report the preparation and characterizations of Langmuir and Langmuir-Blodgett films of a thiacyanine dye-dioctadecyl thiacyanine perchlorate (NK) mixed with Octadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (OTAB). The relationship between the molar ratio of OTAB and NK and the orientation of molecules at the air-water interface was investigated using surface pressure - area per molecule ({\pi}-A) isotherm. UV-Vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopic investigations reveal that prominent J-aggregation of NK molecule was observed in the LB films lifted at higher surface pressure. This J-aggregation can be controlled by diluting the NK molecules with OTAB. It was observed that the J-aggregates of NK decayed to monomer and H-aggregates when the NK-LB film was exposed to a monochromatic light of wavelength 460 nm (Lambda max of J - aggregates).