Porous polyelectrolyte materials with controlled luminescence properties based on aromatic-aromatic interactions with rhodamine B

A series of porous materials made of sodium alginate have been synthesized by freeze-drying including rhodamine B as pigment complexed or not with the aromatic polymer poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate). By means of aromatic-aromatic interactions between the aromatic polymer and the dye, the luminescent properties of the final materials can be controlled. This is mainly produced by avoiding the dye self-aggregation in the solid state in a higher extent as the excess of the aromatic polyelectrolyte over the dye increases. The solid materials present a structure made of microsheets and microfibers of alginate, density ranging between 17 and 26 mg/cm(3), porosity higher than 97%, and Young's modulus ranging between 8 and 24 kPa. This work highlights the role or aromatic polyelectrolytes to control properties of both the polymer and its aromatic counterions in the solid state, making use of aromatic-aromatic interactions.