Fabrication of Dye-Dispersed Optical-Quality Polymer Films by Coprecipitation of Cyanine Dye with Polymers

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Abstract
3,3'-Diethyloxadicarbocyanine iodide (DODCI)-dissolved polymer powders were formed by coprecipitation of DODCI with polymers [poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), poly(2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate) (PHPMA), etc.]. An acetone solution of DODCI in which a purified polymer was also dissolved was injected into a large amount of n-hexane. The precipitated powder in n-hexane was filtered and then dried under ultrahigh vacuum (UHV), and formed into a thin film by a hot-press method [Hiraga et al.: Chem. Lett. (1990) 2255]. Another method for preparing a powder by coprecipitation has successfully been developed using a vacuum process. The acetone solution of DODCI and polymer was directly injected into UHV from the liquid phase through a modified needle valve. Deposits were formed on a heat-controlled substrate through quick evaporation of a carrier solvent and they were hot-pressed to produce a thin transparent film. Condensed states of DODCI associates in these films have been analyzed by optical absorption and emission, small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and NMR spectroscopy. A new technique to control the arrangement of dye associates in three-dimensional space has been proposed.