Layer-by-layer assembly of luminescent multilayer thin films by MMT, anionic chromophores and magnetic CoAl-LDHs nanosheets

Abstract In this report, luminescent multilayer thin films (MTFs) based on oppositely-charged montmorillonite (MMT) and transition metal-bearing layered double hydroxides (LDHs) nanosheets were fabricated via a layer-by-layer assembly method. Oppositely-charged inorganic nanosheets can be expected to assemble an electronic microenvironment (EME), and transition metal-bearing LDHs nanosheets can offer an additional magnetic field (MF) for the chromophores at the same time. Surprisingly, the luminescent lifetimes of MTFs with EME and MF are significantly prolonged compared with that of the pristine chromophores, even much longer than those of MTFs without oppositely-charged and magnetic architecture. Therefore, it is highly expected that the EME and MF formed by oppositely-charged and transition metal-bearing inorganic nanosheets have remarkable influence on enhancing the luminescent lifetimes of chromophores, which suggest a new potential way to manipulate, control and develop the novel light-emitting materials and optical devices at molecular level.