Effective intercalation of [Ru(bpy)3]2+ into titania nanosheet films using bipyridinium analogs as intermediate guests

Abstract

Abstract The intercalation of a large photofunctional molecule, tris(bipyridine)ruthenium (II) ([Ru(bpy)3]2+), into titania nanosheet (TNS) films via a guest-exchange method was investigated using 6 bipyridinium analogs as intermediate guest (IG) molecules. The interlayer distance of the IG intercalated TNS films affects the subsequent ion-exchange reaction and the adsorption rate of [Ru(bpy)3]2+. The IG 3,3′-diethylbipyridinium (3-Etbpy2+) was as the most effective interlayer expansion molecule among the studied analogs.