Intercalation of a Cationic Cyanine Dye Assisted by Anionic Surfactants within Mg-Al Layered Double Hydroxide

An original route for the intercalation of a 1,1'-diethyl-2,2'-cyanine iodide (PIC) cationic dye, through the use of anionic surfactants as vector/carrier phases, within Mg-Al layered double hydroxide (LDH) was investigated. From the data acquired from complementary techniques (X-ray diffraction, infrared and UV-visible spectroscopies, thermogravimetry, and fluorimetry), it appears that both the intercalation and aggregation states of the cationic dye within the internal structure of LDH mainly depend on both the surfactant state (monomer form or spherical micelle) and its amount. The intercalation of PIC at a low molar ratio to the anionic surfactant leads to the formation of J-aggregates with singular fluorescence properties that mainly depend on the nature of the anionic surfactant used for the co-intercalation process. The results obtained in this study open new routes for the intercalation of cationic species, assisted by anionic surfactants, within LDHs.