Intermolecular interactions in Langmuir-Blodget films of liquid crystalline perylene derivatives

Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films formed of some discotic liquid crystals, namely 3,4,9,10-tetra-(n-alkoxy-carbonyl)-perylenes, mixed with arachid acid have been studied. The absorption and fluorescence spectra were recorded. The results obtained have led to conclusions about formation of self-aggregates of dye molecules both in ground and excited states at the air-solid substrate interface. It was found that some fraction of J-aggregates can be created in the ground state. In the excited state, mostly excimers appear and the number of this kind of aggregates depends on the length of the alkyl chains substituted to the perylene core, as well as on the dye concentration and the number of layers in LB films.