Intercalation and the photochromism of azo dye in the hydrophobic interlayer spaces of organoammonium-fluor-tetrasilicic micas

Photochemical isomerization of p-aminoazobenzene intercalated in the interlayer spaces of swelling fluor-tetrasilicic micas (TSM) was investigated. Long chain alkylammonium ion exchanged TSMs were used as the host materials to obtain hydrophobic interlayer spaces for the azo-dyes. Intercalation compounds were obtained by the solid-solid reactions between the organoammonium-TSMs and p-aminoazobenzene or p-dimethylaminoazobenzene. The intercalated azo dyes showed reversible photochromic reactions by UV irradiation and subsequent thermal treatment. The hydrophobic interlayer spaces of the alkylammonium-silicates were proved to be attractive reaction media for the immobilization and photochemical isomerization of the azo dye.