N. Miyamoto, K. Kuroda, M. Ogawa
Jan 7, 2004
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Journal
Journal of Materials Chemistry
Abstract
Fine powders of propylammonium-exchanged Na2Ti3O7 were successfully converted to transparent thin films by swelling (and exfoliating) the material in water and subsequent casting and drying the obtained titanate sol on a substrate. The dispersion of the material was promoted by sonication and hydrothermal treatment of the sol. A self-standing film was also obtained by depositing the sol on a Teflon substrate and subsequent peeling off from the substrate by soaking in acetone. Taking advantage of the cation exchange capability of the films thus obtained, a cationic cyanine dye (pseudoisocyanine) was intercalated with retaintion of the transparency and morphology of the films. Polarized visible spectra revealed that the intercalated dyes were present as J-aggregates with the dipole moment oriented parallel to the film surface. The present methodology is a convenient way to fabricate titanate–dye hybrids as films.