<b>PREPARATION, CHARACTERIZATION AND OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF MCM-41/RHODAMINE B</b>

Abstract

Nanometer MCM-41 molecular sieve and rhodamine B (RhB) have been used for the host and guest, respectively, to prepare host-guest (nanometer MCM-41)-RhB composite materials by liquid-phase grafting method. Powder X-ray diffraction, chemical analysis, infrared spectroscopy, low temperature nitrogen adsorption-desorption technique and diffuse reflectance absorption spectroscopy were used to characterize the prepared (nanometer MCM-41)-RhB host-guest composite material. The results showed that the framework of the molecular sieve in the host-guest composite material is well retained and highly ordered. The RhB was confined and dispersed inside the channels of the host material. A blue-shift of 56 nm in the UV-vis diffuse reflection absorption spectrum of the host-guest composite material prepared further indicated that RhB trapped in the channels of the molecular sieve. The guest was stereoscopically confined by the channels of the nanometer MCM-41 host. The prepared host-guest composite material shows luminescence. The material has the potentiality as luminescence material. KEY WORDS : Host-guest nanocomposite material, Nanometer MCM-41 molecular sieve host, Rhodamine B guest, Characterization, Luminescence Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2009 , 23(1), 145-150.