Molecular aggregation of naphthalimide dyes in Langmuir–Blodgett films

Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) films formed of some naphthalimide dyes, namely derivatives of 4-aminonaphthalimide, mixed with arachidic acid have been studied. The electronic absorption and fluorescence spectra were recorded. The results obtained have led to conclusions about formation of self-aggregates of dye molecules. The absorption spectra have indicated that in the ground electronic state, depending on the molecular structure of substituents to the main core of the dye molecule, some fractions of J-type and/or H-type aggregates can be created. The fluorescence spectra have been dominated by the emission from excimer states. The efficiency of fluorescence has been dependent on the dye content and the number of layers in LB films. Comparison of the results of this study with those obtained previously for these same dyes mixed with the thermotropic liquid crystal 4-heptyl-4′-cyanobiphenyl has revealed that the interactions among dye molecules in monolayers formed at interfaces are strongly affected by a compound used as a supporting matrix.