Energy transfer in hybrid Langmuir–Blodgett films of iridium complexes and synthetic saponite: dependence of transfer efficiency on the interlayer distance

Abstract

Multi-layered hybrid films comprised of amphiphilic cationic iridium(III) complexes and the exfoliated layers of synthetic saponite were prepared by the modified Langmuir–Blodgett method. Two iridium(III) complexes, [Ir(dfppy)2(dc9bpy)]+ (dfppyH = 2-(4′,6′-difluorophenyl)pyridine; dc9bpy = 4,4′-dinonyl-2,2′-bipyridine) and [Ir(piq)2(dc9bpy)]+ (piqH = 1-phenyisoquinoline), were used as blue (donor) and red emitters (acceptor), respectively. A non-luminescent hybrid layer of stearylammonium and synthetic saponite was deposited in a layer-by-layer manner to vary the distance between the donor and acceptor layers. Energy transfer was analysed according to the Förster-type mechanism with a focus on the dependence of its efficiency on the interlayer distance.