Spectroscopic characterizations of non-amphiphilic 2-(4-biphenylyl)-6-phenyl benzoxazole molecules at the air–water interface and in Langmuir–Blodgett films

This communication reports about the successful incorporation of a well-known non-amphiphilic derivative of oxazole chromophore 2-(4-biphenylyl)-6-phenyl benzoxazole abbreviated as PBBO, in Langmuir–Blodgett films when mixed with stearic acid (SA) as well as also an inert polymer matrix polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). The surface pressure versus area per molecule isotherms of the Langmuir films of PBBO mixed with PMMA or SA at different mole fractions reveal that the area per molecule decreases consistently with increasing mole fractions of PBBO. Area per molecule versus mole fraction curve shows that the experimental data points coincide with the ideality curve predicted by the additivity rule, which leads to the conclusion of either ideal mixing or complete demixing of the binary components. The UV-vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopic studies of mixed LB films of PBBO reveal the nature of complete demixing of the binary components of the sample molecules (PBBO) and PMMA or SA molecules. This complete demixing leads to the formation of clusters and aggregates of PBBO molecules in Langmuir and Langmuir–Blodgett films. J-type aggregates of PBBO molecules in LB films have been confirmed by UV-vis absorption spectroscopic study. Aggregation of PBBO molecules in LB films giving rise to excimeric emission has been demonstrated by fluorescence spectroscopic study. Excitation spectroscopic study clearly confirmed the presence of excimeric sites.