Optical properties of pseudoisocyanine molecular clusters embedded in a nanoporous alumina

The molecular clusters, so called J-aggregates of pseudoisocyanine dye, were obtained in ordered cylindrical nanopores of anodic aluminum oxide. The absorption and luminescence of the samples were studied by the VIS-spectroscopy and laser confocal microscopy. The band of J-aggregates has the same shape, but is inhomogeneous broadened in comparison with solution. The luminescence maximum of J-aggregates was observed at 578 nm upon excitation at 543 nm as well as at 405 nm. Non-resonant luminescence excitation occurred due to energy transfer from oxygen vacancy of alumina to molecular nanoclusters. This is also confirmed by time-resolved luminescence spectroscopy, which shows the increase of luminescence decay time of J-aggregates placed in alumina up to the luminescence time of the clean alumina in comparison with J-aggregates coated on glass substrate.