Block building of polymethine dye aggregates

Abstract

Formation of J-aggregates of polymethine dyes in solutions and in a heterogeneous system of AgHal grains is considered. A new mechanism of formation of polymethine dye J-aggregates from dimers is proposed on the basis of the equilibrium between dimers and J-aggregates in solution. It was concluded that “block building” of J-aggregates from dimers is most preferable for constructing perfect J-aggregates of the same size (mono-structural J-aggregates). Mixed J-aggregates and “heterocontact dimers” of polymethine dyes with various polymethine chain lengths are obtained using the block building technique.