Enhanced fluorescence of coumarin laser dye in the restricted geometry of a porous nanocomposite

Abstract

We report here the dramatic increase in fluorescence intensity of 7-diethylamino-4-methylcoumarin (coumarin 1) laser dye in the restricted geometry of a pillared clay nanocomposite. The fluorescence intensity of the alumina-pillared fluorphlogopite– coumarin complex is about 6 times greater than that of the fluorphlogopite–coumarin complex. The prevention of dye aggregation and the change of the crystal field surrounding the coumarin dye molecules in the compartments between pillars apparently lead to this fluorescence enhancement. The positive results obtained here may lead to the potential application of dye-intercalated nanocomposite clays in linear and non-linear optics.