Syntheses of High-Quality Mesoporous Materials Directed by Blends of Nonionic Amphiphiles under Nonaqueous Conditions

In situ inclusion of the laser dyes coumarin 466, coumarin 7, pyridine 2 and DCM has been conducted successfully in AlPO4-5 crystals. The charged molecule pyridine 2 interacts with the framework and leads to bundle-like morphologies with increasing dye content. Uncharged molecules (DCM, coumarin 7, coumarin 466) are included, although corresponding molecular dimensions are exceeding pore size. These dyes probably induce local defects in the pore walls of AlPO4-5 which are healed during crystal growth leading to well-developed hexagonal prisms. Spectroscopic studies show interactions of the dyes with the solid-state matrix which are reflected by shifts of absorption and emission maxima of the dyes. For the first time, laser activity is demonstrated on a perfect hexagonal single AlPO4-5/DCM crystal.