J-Aggregates of Cyanine Dyes in Aqueous Solution of Polymers: A Quantitative Study

Abstract

The effect of polyvinylsulfate (PVS) on the spectroscopy of the cyanine dye, 1,1’-diethyl-2,2’-cyanine iodide (PIC), has been investigated using UV-vis spectroscopy. J-aggregates of the PIC dye were formed upon addition of PVS to the monomers of the dye in solution. The appearance of only one isosbestic point in the UV-vis spectra suggests that the dye monomers are quantitatively converted to J-aggregates and equilibrium was reached. Using Benisi-Hildebrand kinetics, aggregation number of 4 was calculated for the dye. In addition, a 1:2 mole ratio of PIC/PVS was calculated at the maximum capacity of the polymer.