Spectroscopic characterization of inorganic host:organic dopant films fabricated via laser-assisted molecular beam deposition

Thin films of hybrid inorganic:organic composites [TiO₂:copper phthalocyanine, Al₂O₃:6-propionyl-2-(dimethylamino)naphthalene, and Al₂O₃:rhodamine 6G] were fabricated by mixing the constituents in the gas phase via the technique of laser-assisted molecular beam deposition. These films were characterized by UV-visible, infrared, and steady-state fluorescence spectroscopic techniques. UV-visible and infrared spectra of TiO₂:copper phthalocyanine films indicate that the organometallic compound, copper phthalocyanine, is trapped within the host TiO₂ matrix without degradation. The local microenvironment of the organic components in these composite films were studied by steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy. Emission spectra indicate that the organic dye molecule, rhodamine 6G, is trapped within the Al₂O₃ matrix as the monomer without aggregation. The spectral red shift of the emission peak and the full width at the half maximum suggest the environmentally sensitive probe, 6-propionyl-2-(dimethylamino)naphthalene, molecules are embedded within the Al₂O₃ matrix as opposed to being adsorbed on the Al₂O₃ surface.