Adsorption and aggregation of a cationic cyanine dye on layered clay minerals

The adsorption and aggregation of a cationic cyanine dye, 1,1′-diethyl-2,2′-cyanine (pseudoisocyanine; abbreviated as PIC), on various clays have been investigated. The PIC formed J-aggregates on Na-montmorillonite and synthetic Na-fluor-tetrasilicic mica (TSM), while they distributed molecularly on synthetic Na-saponite and synthetic Na-hectorites. The particle size of the clays was considered to be a dominant factor to control the aggregation of PIC. The J-aggregate formation was suppressed when tetramethylammonium–montmorillonite was employed as a host material. Ethylene glycol in the suspension was also responsible for the suppression of J-aggregate formation of PIC. Thus, the aggregation of PIC was effectively controlled by the species surrounding the PIC cations as well as the nature of clays.