Time, Space, and Spectrally Resolved Studies on J-Aggregate Interactions in Zeolite L Nanochannels

Abstract

Temporally and spectrally resolved confocal microscopy has been used to explore the behavior of pyronine intercalated zeolite L crystals at different loadings. The low pyronine loading of 0.6% exhibits photophysical behavior similar to that of the free molecule in solution, indicating molecules are isolated from each other in the crystal channels. The higher loading of 20% results in a dye gradient along the channel axis, and the presence of an additional red-shifted spectroscopic transition, with shorter lifetimes. The new band is assigned to an inline arrangement of the molecules undergoing a J-aggregate-type coupling, a process so far not observed in subnanometer channels.