Intercalation of Perylenediimide Dye into LDH Clays: Enhancement of Photostability

Intercalation of perylenediimide dye into a host layer of layered double hydroxide (LDH) by the anion-exchange method is studied N,N'-Bis(4-benzosulfonic acid)-perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylbisimide disodium salt (PRSA) has been synthesized and intercalated into the perchlorate form of ZnAl-, CoAl-, and NiAl-LDH. LDH composite with well-defined morphology has been prepared. XRPD and FT-IR investigation show successful intercalation of PRSA, and the interlayer distances are 32.5 angstrom for ZnAl-LDH-PRSA, 30.0 angstrom for CoAl-LDH-PRSA, and 31.2 angstrom for NiAl-LDH-PRSA. These values support the presence of monolayer arrangement of intercalated PRSA molecules in the composite and also indicate vertical orientation of PRSA molecules with the basal plane of LDH. Photophysical properties of these intercalated composites have been measured with UV-vis spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy, and confocal laser scanning microscopy. The results indicate that the PRSA molecules are stacked in J-type aggregation in the interlayer region. Intercalated PRSA molecules show enhanced thermal and photophysical stabilities.